Early Statements Calling for the Religious Community to Address Environmental Issues

• Global Forum, Moscow: January 1990 (Obtained Through the National Religious Partnership for the Environment)“Preserving and Cherishing the Earth: An Appeal for Joint Commitment in Science and Religion”
• National Religious Partnership for the Environment 1991 “The Joint Appeal in Religion and Science: Statement by Religious Leaders at the Summit on Environment”
• Union of Concerned Scientists 1992 “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity”
  

 

Official Statements on Religion and Ecology from Religious Organizations

• Buddhism. Statement Prepared by Kevin Fossey Buddhism Faith Statement on Ecology

• Daoism: The China Daoist Association Daoist Faith Statement

• Indigenous Traditions: Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) Environmental Capacity-building Initiatives for First Nations First Nations Environmental Network “Voices for Mother Earth” Statement Submitted by Thomas Banyacya Hopi Message to the United Nations General Assembly

• Jainism:  Statement Prepared by Dr L. M. Singhvi for the Institute of Jainology. Jain Faith Statement

• Judaism: Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) “Mission Statement” Interfaith Climate Network: Let There Be Light: Energy Conservation and God's Creation. Jewish Council for Public Affairs Confronting the Challenge of Climate Change Jewish Council for Public Affairs JCPA Statement on Environmental Leadership and Justice. Jewish Council for Public Affairs. Resolution On Energy And Environment Priorities. National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council. Statement on The Protection of Biological Diversity. Statement Prepared by Professor Nahum Rakover for the World Jewish Congress Jewish Faith Statement

• Shinto: Statement Prepared by the Jinja Honcho. Shinto Faith Statement

• Christianity: National Council of Churches (NCC) Eco-justice Working Group. National Religious Partnership for the Environment “Mission Statement”. World Council of Churches Justice, Peace, and Creation Concerns and “The Earth’s Atmosphere: Responsible Caring and Equitable Sharing for a Global Commons” and “WCC Statement to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP3”  and "Churches for Water in Africa"

• Interfaith Organizations. Interfaith Council for Environmental Stewardship and The Montserrat Statement (Buddhist and Christian)

• Other Organizations: Religion and Science Joint Appeal by Religion and Science for the Environment “Declaration of the ‘Mission to Washington’”

 

Official Statements on Religion and Ecology

Christian Denominational Statements
Note that official statements and resolutions are defined differently from various denominational perspectives. Please read the overview pages of each denomination to gain a clearer understanding of how these statements are presented and acted upon within the organization.

American Baptist

• “Policy Statements and Resolutions Home Page”
• Policy Statement on “Ecology: An Ecological Situational Analysis”
• Resolution on “Environmental Concerns”
• Resolution on “Global Warming”
• Resolution on “Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste”
• Resolution on “Individual Lifestyle for Ecological Responsibility”
• Resolution on “Nuclear Power: Seeking Rational Solutions”

Catholic Church

Alberta Bishops Letter on Ecology (October 4, 1998)

• “Celebrate Life: Care for Creation”

Archdiocese of Santa Fe (October 15–16, 2000)

• New Mexico Religious Leaders Statement to the Interfaith Climate Change Training Event

Bishops Pastoral Letter (2001)

• “Columbia River Watershed: Caring for Creation and the Common Good”
• “The Columbia River Watershed: Caring for Creation and the Common Good: Reflection Guide”

Boston Province Bishops Pastoral Letter on the Environment (October 4, 2000)

• “And God Saw That It Was Good”

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)

• “What is Happening to Our Beautiful Land?”

New Mexico Catholic Conference

• “Partnership for the Future”

Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

• “Toward a Better Distribution of Land”

Pope John Paul

• Address to Farmers and Agricultural Representatives (2000)
• “Earth is Entrusted to Humanity’s Use, Not Abuse”

Pope John Paul

• “The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility”

Pope John Paul XXIII: Encyclical Letter

• Pacem in Terris: “On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity, and Liberty”

Pope John Paul’s Homily (2000)

• “We Must Be the Custodians of Nature”

Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople

• Roman Catholic-Eastern Orthodox Joint Declaration on the Environment

Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

• Environmental Initiatives
• Community Supported Agriculture
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
• Environmental Justice Public Policy (Brownfields, Energy, Takings, Climate Change)
• “Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good”
• “Renewing the Earth”
• USCCB Environmental Justice Program

 

 

Episcopal Church

General List of Statements on:

• Environmental Stewardship
• Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation
• Land Use

Episcopal Church Involvement in Special Projects

• “Peace and Justice: Environmental Stewardship”
• Other Episcopal Resources
• Episcopal Ecological Network (EEN)
  
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  
• Caring for Creation

 

Studies and Other Study Papers

• "Can New Nuclear Weapons Prevent Nuclear War?"
• Nuclear Energy: Problems and Promises (1980)

 

Church Involvement in Special Projects

• Environmental Education and Advocacy

Greek Orthodox: Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

• Presentations and Reports from Seminars and Symposiums on Religion, Science, and the Environment

Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople

• Protocol No. 765

Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Pope John Paul II

• Eastern Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Declaration on the Environment 
• United Church of Canada
• Energy in the One Earth Community
• Justice, Peace, and Creation
• One Earth Community: A Statement of Ethical Principles for Environment and Development

 

United Methodist Church

• From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church
• Statements on “Animal Life”
• Statements on “Energy Resources Utilization”
• Statements on “Space" and on “Science and Technology”
• Statements on “The Natural World”
• Statements on “Water, Air, Soil, Minerals, Plants”
• Additional related statements about the Natural World can be found in The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church (no on-line format available).

 

Unitarian Universalist

• Ethical Eating

Ethical Eating: Food & Environmental Justice (2011)

• General Resources

UU Master Page for Actions, Resolutions, and Resources (1961-2000)
Master page on “Ecological Resolutions”

• General Environmental Resolutions

Resolution on “Earth, Air, Water, and Fire” (1997)
Resolution on the “Environment” (1969)
Resolution on the “Environment” (1971)
Resolution on “Natural Resources” (1966)
Resolution on “Protecting the Biosphere” (1989)
“Seventh Principal of the UU Principals and Purposes Statement”

• Energy Issues

Resolution on “Alternative Sources and Conservation of Energy” (1981)
Resolution on “Safer Alternatives to the Alaska Pipeline” (1973)
Resolution on “Energy” (1977)
Resolution on “Nuclear Power” (1976)
Resolution on “Safer Sources of Energy” (1992)
Resolution on “Solar Heating” (1979)

Resolution on Responsible "Consumption Is Our Moral Imperative" (2001)

Resolution on "Clean Up the Clean Energy Bill"  (2010)

Resolution on "Gulf Coast Environmental and Economic Justice" (2010)

• Environmental Justice

Resolution on “Carcinogens in Air and Water” (1976)
Resolution on “Environmental Justice” (1994)
Resolution on “Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste” (1984)
Resolution on “Toxic Threats to Children” (1997)

Resolution on "The Green Revolution in Religion" (2010)

• Policy Issues

Resolution on “Problems of Environmental Policy” (1977)
Resolutions on “United Nations and Earth Day Celebrations” (1994)

• Population

Resolution on “Choices Affecting Population” (1990)
Resolution on “Population” (1962)
Resolution on “Population and Development” (1996)
Resolution on “Population and the Quality of Life” (1975)
Resolution on “Population Stabilization” (1973)
Resolution on “Survival and Population Control” (1970)
Resolution on “World Hunger and Population Control” (1966)

 

Additional Denominational Statements on the Environment

• The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty

 

Islamic Statements

• Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences
  Guardians of the Natural Order
• United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development
  Islamic Declaration on Sustainable Development
  The original draft of the first official Islamic statement was entitled, the "Jeddah Environment Declaration." This statement was later renamed the "Islamic Declaration on Sustainable Development." This statement is included in the United Nations (UN) World Summit on Development (Johannesburg, South Africa) paper entitled, "General Framework of Islamic Agenda for Sustainable Development Islamic Declaration on Sustainable Development: Background Paper No.5." 
• Statement Prepared by Hyder Ihsan Mahasneh for the Muslim World League
  Islamic Faith Statement

 

Religiously Related Organizations Working with Environmental Issues

• Episcopal: The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) “Mission Statement” and Episcopal Power and Light: The Regeneration Project. The Episcopal Working Group on Science, Technology, and Faith “Mission Statement”

• Lutheran Environmental Education and Advocacy

• Presbyterian: Presbyterians for Restoring Creation “Mission Statement”

• Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth (formerly the Seventh Principal Project)

• Other Ecumenical Agencies Eco-Justice Ministries

 

Links care of Forum on Religion & Ecology at Yale