Faith Based Organisations at Stockholm+50 Launch Interfaith Statement

Stockholm+50 Interfaith Statement
“Faith Values and Reach – Contribution to Environmental Policy”

“A point has been reached in history when we must shape our actions throughout the world with a more prudent care for their environmental consequences. Through ignorance or indifference we can do massive and irreversible harm to the earthly environment on which our life and well-being depend. Conversely, through fuller knowledge and wiser action, we can achieve for ourselves and our posterity a better life in an environment more in keeping with human needs and hopes.” (excerpt from Preambular Paragraph 6 of the 1972 Stockholm Declaration)

Preamble

We, the representatives of various faith based organizations, Indigenous cultures and wisdoms from around the world participating in the Stockholm+50, committed to caring for ecological justice and for protecting our one Earth, hereby make the following statement to the governments, UN entities, civil society, and all stakeholders of the “Stockholm+50” processes.

Introduction

The world is facing a triple ‘pandemic’ of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Those hardest hit are those who have caused the least damage. We have less than three years for our carbon emissions to start dropping from the peak, and yet emissions continue to rise. We have already exceeded several thresholds critical to a stable and functioning planetary system, and we are currently on a pathway to overshooting dangerous tipping points, with irreversible consequences for all life.

Rainfroests – the ‘lungs of earth’ – are ironically becoming a carbon emitter. Melting permafrost is already releasing enormous quantities of methane. Devastating heat waves, floods, and droughts impact many parts of the world. Climate-related disease outbreak and pest infestations are decimating communities’ resilience. Across the globe, conflict and war are fuelling increased competition for fossil fuel extraction and exploration.

The root causes of the triple planetary crises are deeply fueled by structural greed and apathy that underpin our current economic systems. Amassing of obscene wealth by corporations and select individuals is directly related to global environmental problems and solutions, which is morally and ethically unacceptable.

Without addressing these underlying causes, we are on a collision course to disaster.

Recognition

Inspired by the values and principles of our various belief systems including faith, values and ethics, we recognise that:
1. Fossil fuel-based, extractive economies are accelerating climate change and loss of biodiversity;
2. Poor and marginalized people, especially women, children, older persons, Indigenous people and those with disabilities are most impacted by climate change;
3. We have abused nature and Indigenous people and have been complicit with colonial extractive practices. We need to change our relationship and learn to co-exist in a harmonious and symbiotic manner with earth and its ecosystems. The environment and the human family are interdependent;
4. We humans have failed in our responsibility as ‘earth keepers’ to protect the planet;
5. We must challenge the values, such as individualism and greed shaping our patterns of consumption and production;
6. We must rediscover the moral and spiritual roots of human beings, and rights and dignity of all beings;
7. We must strive to move from human superiority to human humility, from ego-centric to eco-centric and from being separate to nature, to interconnectedness;
8. We must urgently move from unbridled industrial growth to sustainable well-being.

Affirmation

We affirm that:
1. Faith and Indigenous leaders and actors have the potential to play an essential role in shaping global environmental governance and policy making. The traditions that we represent have unique capacities to convince, convene and contribute meaningful, moral, economic, spiritual and social substance to public deliberations;
2. More than 84% of people believe in a religion or a spiritual belief and religious leaders can be found in every part of the world, from the most distant desert village to the densest informal settlement. Faith-based Organizations (FBOs) bring reach and values to the environmental movement;
3. FBOs are strong institutions and are actors of local development and have demonstrated relevance to development around the world, for instance in health and education;
4. The 1972 Stockholm Declaration recognized and referred to the necessity of spiritual growth of humans towards living in harmony with nature;
5. Women and girls in all their diversity are unequally impacted by climate change, but should have equal opportunities, meaningful participation, leadership and influence in climate solutions and access to climate finance;
6. All persons irrespective of their abilities, physical or otherwise, are recognised as equal, and have a vital role to play to respond to climate challenges, and contribute to a better tomorrow.

Call to action:

We therefore call governments, UN entities, civil society, as well as our own constituencies to act on the following demands/action points:
1. Recognize the role of faith, ethics, spiritual and cultural values in environmental governance through adopting a resolution to that effect by the United Nations Environment Assembly and provide the required platform and programme for engaging faith actors in policy dialogue;
2. Implement the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a key step towards achieving sustainable development, poverty eradication, inclusivity and gender equality, while respecting rights of nature.
3. Adopt a new development paradigm that integrates moral, spiritual and indigenous shared values;
4. Move from a neoliberal and “anthropocentric” worldview to an interconnected worldview;
5. Support a just transition from fossil-based extractive economy towards life-affirming “economy of life” and sustainable living, as promoted by the faith communities;
6. Adopt and implement an Ecocide law* and promote the Faith for Ecocide Law initiative by FBOs;
7. Ensure the human right to nutritious food and safe water and sanitation, including clean air for all in a healthy environment;
8. Implement the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a key step towards achieving sustainable development, poverty eradication, inclusivity and gender equality;
9. Amplify the voice of women and girls in all their diversity as important stakeholders of climate solutions and climate finance.
10. Raise awareness of concerns around carbon offset/nature-based solutions that can lead to abuse of land and rural people.

We commit ourselves to:
11. Act and practice what we preach, and to become protectors of this earth, to strive to live in harmony and sustainability, through our daily actions, how we invest, how we manage assets, and how we engage with our faith communities;
12. Divest from fossil fuels and call for an immediate halt to new fossil fuel explorations and to promote a responsible climate finance as a moral imperative in protecting the most vulnerable from impacts of climate change;
13. Promote “refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle” in all public events, leading by example to reduce pollution, especially plastic waste;
14. Amplify the prophetic voices of young people, older persons, women and Indigenous people;
15. As faith leaders, representatives of faith-based organizations and faith communities, to lead by example to reduce our carbon and water footprints for a healthy planet;
16. Strengthen the interconnectedness of relevant UN mandates such as the two new Human Rights Council Resolutions on climate change and human rights.
*(as it was first mentioned at the Stockholm conference in 1972 by the Swedish prime minister Olof Palme)
________________

Endorse The statement

1. Tova Mårtensson, Chairperson, Church of Sweden Youth
2. Michael Stanley-Jones, Senior Advisor, Circular Research Foundation, Parabita, Italy
3. Morgana Sythove, Chair, Pagan Federation International Foundation and URI Global Trustee Multiregion (United Religions Initiative) Based in the Netherlands
4. Ann Scholz, SSND, Director for Social Mission, Leadership Conference of Women Religious
5. Mary Pat Fisher, Manager, Gobind Sadan, New Delhi
6. Jean Duff, President, Partnership for Faith and Development, Ireland
7. Kiran Bali, Global Trustee Chair, the United Religions Initiative
8. Shantanu Mandal, Thematic Facilitator, Environment and Faith, Steering committee UNEP MGCY.
9. Ms Eva Christina Nilsson, Director of the Department for Theology, Mission and Justice, The Lutheran World Federation
10. Rabbi Yonatan Neril, Founder and Executive Director, The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, Jerusalem
11. Dr Marianna Leite, Global Advocacy and Development Policy Manager, ACT Alliance
12. Charlotta Norrby. Secretary General. SMC-Faith in Development
13. Bishop Andreas Holmberg, Diocese of Stockholm, Church of Sweden
14. Yudhistir Govinda Das, Director of Communications, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
15. Kristian Sloth Petersen, Secretary General, Danmission
16. Sonigitu Asibong Ekpe, Director (Scientific), Department of Environmental Multilateral Support and Cooperation, Cross River State Ministry of Environment, Calabar-Nigeria.
17. Gauranga Das, Director- Strategy, Communications & Collaborations, Govardhan Ecovillage
18. Dr Aditi V Mishal, Chief Sustainability Officer, Dean- Educational Initiatives, Govardhan Ecovillage
19. Dr Stanley Makhosi Bhebhe, Vice-Chancellor, Africa Nazarene University, Nairobi, Kenya
20. David Krantz, President, Aytzim: Ecological Judaism
21. FASIKA LACHORE LABA, Pan African Coordinator, Pax Romana ( International Movement of Catholic Students IMCS Pax Romana Africa), Nairobi Kenya
22. Abhirup Khan, Coordinator-Palki Peace Cooperation Circle, United Religions Initiative
23. Josephine Sundqvist PhD, Secretary General, Läkarmissionen/ LM International, Sweden
24. Sister Jayanti Kirpalani, Addl. Admin. Head, Brahma Kumaris
25. Mary Githiomi International Aid Services Kenya *(IAS K)
26. Georgia Gleoudi, Consultant/E-learning Courses Moderator, KAICIID
27. Meredith Beal, Media Technology Advisor, United Religions Initiative Africa
28. Grace Sabiri Mageka – Researcher at the Sapienza University of Rome. Rome, Italy
29. Jin Tanaka, Branch manager, UNISC International, Vice-President Climate Youth Japan, member of UNEP Stockholm+50 Youth Task Force, Japan
30. Michael Jemphrey, Creation Care taskforce chair for SIL International, Northern Ireland
31. Rijal Ramdani, Muhammadiyah Environmental Council Indonesia
32. Tcharbuahbokengo NFINN, Federation of Environmental and Ecological Diversity for Agricultural Revampment and Human Rights, (FEEDAR & HR) Cameroon.
33. Nouhad Awwad, national coordinator, Arab Youth Climate Movement-Lebanon
34. Major Joseph Muindi, The Salvation Army
35. Masango Roderick Warakula, Greenfaith Fellow and Founding Member of GreenFaith International Network, Zimbabwe
36. Don de Silva, University Buddhist Counsellor UK and Tutor, The Tariki Trust, UK
37. Dr. Rozilla Adhiambo, African Council of Religious Leaders
38. Riska Saleh, International Relations student, National University
39. Dr. Louk Andrianos, World Council of Churches consultant and
40. ECOTHEE – SAPREJ chair, Season of Creation steering committee member, Greece
41. Fr. Charles B. Chilufya, SJ, Director, Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA)
42. Amel KOUADRI , S.N.E.S.C. SOLIDARITE NUMERIQUE DANS LE DOMAINE DE L’EDUCATION ET DE LA SANTE CASTRES-FRANCE.
43. Rev Henrik Grape, Co Chair of Interfaith Liaison Committee and senior advisor to World Council of Churches on climate justice
44. Pradeep Mohapatra, Secretary & Co-Founder, UDYAMA, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
45. Antonio Roque, Co-founder , World Peace Alliance , UK
46. Catherine Devitt, Programme Manager, Faith Plans for People and Planet
47. Lovedonia Mkansi; Environment & Energy Project Coordinator The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference – Parliamentary Liaison Office: South Africa
48. Abdullahi Abdi Mohamed; Somali Youth Development Foundation (SYDF) chairperson and founder .Somalia and kenya
49. Odomaro Mubangizi, S.J. Deputy Director and Director Academic Affairs, The Proposed Hekima University, Nairobi
50. Stephen Makagutu, Communications Coordinator, LSA Africa, Kenya
51. Dr Mathew Koshy Punnackadu, Honorary Director, Department of Ecological Concerns, Church of South India.
52. lLydiah Kerubo Omari , Monitoring and Evaluation Intern ,UN-Habitat
53. Louis Bahakoula Mabidi, Action Jeunesse pour le Développement, Congo Brazzaville
54. MOUNYELLE NKAKE Manfred, Executive Secretary of ASHIA International, Cameroon
55. Richard Jordan, Dean of UN NGOs in NY, and CEO of the World Harmony Foundation, New York City
56. Eda Molla Chousein, Religions for Peace United Kingdom Interfaith Youth Network Coordinator and Executive Committee Member – Affiliate Representative of Religions for Peace European Interfaith Youth Network.
57. Stephen Makagutu communication coordinator LSA Africa
58. Louis Bahakoula Mabidi, Directeur Exécutif -Action Jeunesse pour le Développement
59. Martin Manzone, Spiritual
60. Haryani Saptaningtyas, Director Executive of Percik Institute – The Institute for Social Research, Democracy and Social Justice and one of the initiators of Women Interfaith movement ‘KATAHAWA” in Central Java, Indonesia
61. Michael Kakande, Chairperson – The Resilient40 Africa, Founder and CEO of Two Hands One Life (THOL) – Uganda
62. Rodgers Oenga , Executive Director, Pillars Care Foundation
63. Neeshad Shafi, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar
64. Edith Silako Sitati Assistant Chief Cashier , kenya power and lighting company (Kenya)
65. Hudayi Cerkez ACAR, Recipient of JWF Changemaker Award, Founder of Ambassadors of Humanity Project
66. Atef Gerges, President of Gatef, Egypt
67. Dr. Harold D. Hunter, International Pentecostal Holiness Church Ecumenical Officer
68. Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp , Earth Charter Commissioner Co_- President Global Interfaith Wash Alliance Eco_Peace Middle East The Netherlands
69. Gopal D. Patel, Co-founder and Director, Bhumi Global
70. Robert Omondi A cmf , Representing, Fondazione Proclade Internazionale-Onlus
71. Dr Will Tuladhar-Douglas, Director, Situgyan Consulting Ltd.
72. Rianne C ten Veen, Independent Interdisciplinary Consultant, The Netherlands, active in several faith-inspired environment initiatives
73. Bishop Åsa Nyström, Diocese of Luleå, Church of Sweden
74. Olive N. Ntivuguruzwa, CYNESA Rwanda
75. Rev Dr Rachel Mash Coordinator, Anglican Church of Southern Africa Environmental Network (Green Anglicans)
76. Oluwasegun Ogunsakin, Ambassador Bellwether International.
77. Dr. Luiz Felipe Lacerda – Cátedra Laudato Si´ (Universidade Católica de Pernambuco) e Observatório Nacional de Justiça Socioambiental Luciano Mendes de Almeida (OLMA- Brasil).
78. Abdul Halim Sawas, BPharm, PhD, EHS HSP Administrator and Bioethics Officer- Office for Research and Innovation – Meharry Medical college.
79. Martina Manzone, Spiritual Planetary Health Consultant
80. Rev. Brenda Riley, United Church of Canada
81. Dr. Peter Nitschke, Director for Community Partnerships, Plastic Bank, Limburg, Germany
82. Prof. Dr. Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace.
83. Dr. Ibrahim Ozdemir, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey.
84. Prof. Joseph de Rivera, Clark University
85. Fiona Barretto CEO African Malaika Inc
86. Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali. Secretary General. GNRC
87. Rev. Dr. Scott Stearman, U.N. Representative, Baptist World Alliance (ECOSOC)
88. Muhammad Alfa Muhammad – President and Speaker Congress of Accountability Ambassadors, Member Muslim Students Society of Nigeria
89. Pedro Solano – Environmentalist and musician – Policy advisor Interfaith Rainforest Initiative – IRI Perú
90. Osman Felix Cole – Project/Programme Manager at Earth Regenerative Project Sierra Leone. A Youth President for Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Sierra Leone, Freetown Region West Area Urban.
91. M. Evren Tok, College of Islamic Studies, Hamad Bin Khalifa University
92. Mr. Faisal Ilyas, Executive Director PEACE HOPE PAKISTAN
93. Rev. Stephen Avino, Executive Director, Parliament of the World’s Religions
94. Mr. Bikash Ranjan Rautray, Secretary, ARASMIN, INDIA
95. Dr. Joseph Okumu, Tangaza University college,
96. Nairobi
97. Manuel F. Montes, Senior Advisor, Society for International Development
98. Theology and Ethics, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
99. Felipe Ribeiro, Joint Learning Initiative for Faith & Local Communities (JLIF&LC) and United Religions Initiative (URI), São Paulo, Brazil
100. Johan Alwall, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
101. Mary Evelyn Tucker & John Grim, Yale University, Forum on Religion and Ecology
102. Richard Matey, Executive Director, Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities
103. Zina A Mougharbel, Translators. USA.
104. Pastor Danielle Parish, Spark Church, Palo Alto, CA, USA
105. Dr. Wardah Alkatiri, Researcher, Director of Eco-Literacy Programme, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, Indonesia.
106. Dr. Engr. Rt. Ln. Arun Kanti Howlader PMP, Bangladesh, Swaniti SPARC, InSig, APsig, Common Purpose, Haw Hamburg Fellow, Country Representative Global Peace Chain , Founder- YMAP, CHI, RABD, PCI,OTS .
107. Karenna Gore, Executive Director, Center for Earth Ethics, Union Theological Seminary
108. Dr. Michael Reid Trice, Spehar-Halligan Professor and Director, Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement, Seattle University, Washington, USA
109. Jakir Manela, CEO, Hazon, Baltimore, MD, USA
110. Reverend Dr. Debra Murray, First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto, California
111. Dr. Rahimjon Abdugafurov, Emory University, Atlanta Georgia.
112. Dr.Fachruddin M Mangunjaya, Center for Islamic Studies, Universitas Nasional, INDONESIA
113. Rev. Dr. John T. Pawlikowski, OSM, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics,
114. Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, USA
115. Arumugam Sankar, Executive Director, Empower India.
116. Michael Trainor, Senior Lecturer, Australian Catholic University, Adelaide Campus, South Australia
117. Deborah Tomkins, Co-Chair, Green Christian, UK
118. Kelvin Chifulumo, Founder, Educating Girls and Young Women for Development-EGYD
119. Akeem Omotayo Sule, Director of Research at Community Action Against Plastic Waste, Nigeria.
120. Lokesh Kumar Sharma, Founder – Aham Brahmasmi, New Delhi, India & President – Global Alliance for Ecosystem Restoration, India
121. Roma Sharma (Mrs.), Founder – Aham Brahmasmi, New Delhi, India & Chief Financial Officer – Global Alliance for Ecosystem Restoration, India
122. Yoshitaka Oba, General Director, Soka Gakkai International
123. Sr. Adelaide Felister Ndilu, National Executive Secretary, Commission for Social Communications, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, Nairobi
124. Sr. Veronica Brand RSHM, Main NGO Representative – Religious of the Sq
125. Natalija Vojno, Founder Our Future First
126. Arthur Dahl, President, International Environment Forum (Bahá’í-inspired), Geneva, Switzerland
127. Olumide Idowu, Co-Founder at International Climate Change Development Initiative
128. Bud Heckman, Interfaith Funders Group and Climate Action Funders
129. Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, Founder/CEO, Repair the Sea | Tikkun HaYam, St. Petersburg, FL USA
130. Fazlun Khalid, Founder, Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Birmingham, UK.
131. Michelle Loisel DC, NGO Representative – Company of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul
132. Mustafa Genc, Executive Director, Harmony Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
133. Antonino Puglisi, New Humanity – Focolare Movement
134. Judy Njenga,Environmentalist, member CYMG and YOUNGO, Global Youth Biodiversity Network, founder Environmental Biodiversity in Relation to Agriculture. Nairobi Kenya
135. Ali Tharwani, Founder Sustainable Betterworld Alliance, Pakistan
136. ADEL ALSARAWI – STATE AUDIT BUREAU – KUWAIT
137. Fr. Liam O’Callagahan, Columban Missionaries, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
138. Prof. Fadi Daou, Cofounder of Adyan Foundation, Senior Researcher at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Prof. Fadi Daou, Cofounder of Adyan Foundation, Senior Researcher at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
139. Abdullahi Idris Muhammad, Secretary General, Muslim Students’Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Kano University of Science and Technology Branch, Wudil, Kano-Nigeria.
140. Imam Saffet Abid Catovic, Head of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances and Governmental Relations, Washington, DC
141. Rev. Susan Hendershot, President, Interfaith Power & Light, USA
142. Sonja Ohlsson, Brahma Kumaris Denmark
143. Mikael Jägerskog, Head of Policy, PMU – the Swedish Pentecostal Relief and Development Agency
144. Raoman Smita, Founder, Global Law Thinkers Society, and United Religions Initiative (URI) multiregional CC, Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh
145. Petra Wadström, Founder of Solvatten, Stockholm Sweden
146. Menchu Benavides Guijarro, LSA UK
147. Amy Echeverria, Columban Missionaries International
148. Azizan Baharuddin – Holder Chair For Sustainability. UKM-YSD ,Faculty of Engineering Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
149. Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz,President Muslim Youth Movement Mlayasia (ABIM) & Coordinator of Malaysia Interfaith Climate Change Network (MICCN)
150. Mohd Yusaimi Md Yusof, President, Malaysia Peaceful Environment Organization (GRASS Malaysia)
151. Rev.Doyeon Park, Representative, Won Buddhism UN/Interfaith
152. Rev. Einar Tjelle, Chair Norwegian Interfaith Network
153. Professor Dr. Md. Abu Sayem, Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
154. Andrew Morley, President and CEO, World Vision International
155. Guruji Dileepkumar Thankappan, Global Chairman, World Yoga Community
156. Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director, GreenFaith
157. Sandra C. Soi, Assistant Lecturer- Kabarak University, Nakuru, Kenya.
158. Sr. Sheila Smith RSCJUN–NGO Representative, Casa Generalizia della Societa del Sacro Cuore
159. Carl Murrell, Past President of The Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Parliament of the World’s Religions
160. MichelleLoisel,DC NGO Rep. at the United Nations for the Daughters of Charity of Saint de Paul
161. Grove Harris, Director of Global Advocacy, Temple of Understanding
162. Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, Chair, Buddhist Global Relief
163. Knut Andreas Lid, Programme Director, Caritas Norway
164. Sanat Kumar Barua, CEO, Atisha Dipankar Peace Trust Bangladesh, The Paradise, Flat 6/B, 3853 K.B Aman Ali Rd,
165. Janet Palafox IBVM, NGO Representative to the UN, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate
166. Aishah Abdallah, founder of “Anaq al-Ard” Embrace the Earth and Thrive with Nature.
167. Alison Van Dyk, Executive Director, Temple of Understanding
168. Tom Barasa Wafula Consultant on Faith Tree Growing Initiative and administrator of Restoration Evangelistic Ministries, Kenya
169. Rev. Dr. Olusegun Noah Olawoyin, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria and Former Provost, UMCA Theological College, Ilorin, Nigeria
170. Elisabeth Ivete Sherrill, PhD. Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil.
171. Shayna Cohen, Repair the Sea | Tikkun HaYam, St. Petersburg, FL USA
172. The Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, PhD, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of California and the Presiding Bishop’s COP27 Head of Delegation
173. Elsa Barron, Green Team Outreach, Faith in Place
174. Virginia Dorgan, RSHM Coordinator of RSHM Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation
175. Lynnaia Main, Episcopal Church Representative to the Unite
176. Lynnaia Main, Episcopal Church Representative to the United Nations, The Episcopal Church
177. Rev. Chris Parnell, Interfaith Minister, Religions for Peace Australia