Uniting for a Sustainable Future
The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD) reveals the connection between religion and ecology and mobilizes faith communities to act. Founded in 2010, ICSD is a leading organization galvanizing faith communities’ action and teaching on environmental sustainability.
Our Current Projects
ICSD manifests its vision with work on several current projects:
Co-organizer of the first-ever Faith Pavilion at the UN climate conference COP28 in Dubai.
Publisher of Eco Bible: An Ecological Commentary on the Hebrew Bible.
Initiator on the Faith Inspired Renewable Energy Project.
Co-leader of the Interfaith Eco Seminary Engagement Project and the Los Angeles Faith and Ecology Network.
Meet the Team
ICSD works on a global basis, currently in Africa, the Middle East, North America and Europe.
Thought Leadership
Based in Jerusalem, ICSD is registered in Israel as a non-profit organization. ICSD is a partner organization of the International Partnership on Religion & Sustainable Development (PaRD), Olam Together, the Shine Campaign and a Cooperation Circle of United Religions International (URI).
Founders Message
From Rabbi Yonatan Neril, ICSD founder and executive director.
We have one home. With 7.7 billion people and 15 million species, the earth is our collective ship. We have to figure out how to live sustainably, together. We have a shared responsibility for each other. What you do and what I do matter, for ourselves and everyone else on board.
About six billion people– 85% of humanity—affiliate with a religion. Religion informs values, which inform environmental behavior. Religion is a fundamental part of many people’s lives and a key motivator. It is one of the greatest forces for changing hearts and minds. A person is able to live at varying levels of soul awareness, and a sustainable planet will require that we cultivate ourselves to live at higher levels of consciousness.
What does it mean to bring religion to bear in addressing the ecological crisis? Faith traditions and institutions can help cultivate humility, conscious relationships, long-term thinking, and moderated consumption. A sustainable, thriving, and spiritually aware society can realize the prophetic vision of a new earth.
The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development manifests this vision primarily through four projects. First, the Faith Inspired Renewable Energy Project, in cooperation with faith institutions in Africa and a renewable energy developer, deploys solar and wind fields to bring electricity to Africans, reduce indoor air pollution and deforestation, and curb climate change.
Second, the Interfaith Eco Seminary Engagement Project promotes teaching of ecologicFounder’s Messageally informed theological education, to spur courageous moral leadership for sustainability.
Third, ICSD provides thought leadership on religion and ecology. Our short videos, posts, and blog posts provide an effective vehicle for delivering our unique faith-based ecological perspective on Facebook, Twitter, ICSD’s blog, and YouTube. Fourth, ICSD co-organizes Interfaith Environmental Conferences that amplify the voices of religious leaders and scientists on spirituality and ecology.
ICSD also provides thought-leadership to faith-based communities and beyond through our writing, speaking, teaching and advocacy. Our collection of reports, articles, course and syllabus collections, blog, and other resources provide a unique access point for leaders and followers of faith-based communities alike to explore the connections between their tradition and contemporary environmental issues.
Based in Jerusalem, ICSD is registered in Israel as a non-profit organization, and fiscally sponsored in the U.S. by FJC and in Canada by Mizrahi Canada. ICSD is a partner organization of the International Partnership on Religion & Sustainable Development (PaRD), Olam Together, Alliance for Middle East Peace, and the World Economic Forum’s Global Collaboration Village and Earth Decides, and a Cooperation Circle of United Religions International (URI).
The Julia Burke Foundation (US) provided major support to ICSD between 2011 and 2022. Other current or past supporters include the Hewlett Foundation (US), the Miron Wapner Family Fund (Israel), the Sinton Family Fund (US), Opaline Fund (US), the Schutz Polis Family Foundation, the British Shalom/Salaam Trust (England), the German Embassy – Tel Aviv, Anne Frank Fonds, the Gewurz Family Fund, and private donors.