🎧 Interfaith Climate Action: A Conversation with Rabbi Yonatan Neril
In this episode, Derrick Weston speaks with Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founder and director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, about the intersections of faith, environmental ethics, and climate action. The conversation centers on the Eco-Bible project and broader efforts to draw on religious wisdom to inspire ecological responsibility, including how sacred texts and Jewish thought frame humanity’s duty as stewards of the natural world.
Rabbi Neril shares insights from his background in environmental studies at Stanford University and his rabbinical training in Israel, reflecting on how these experiences shaped his approach to integrating spirituality with sustainability. He discusses the importance of interfaith collaboration in addressing the climate crisis, highlighting initiatives that bring together religious leaders and communities to promote environmental awareness and action.
A key theme of the discussion is the connection between food systems and climate change, exploring how everyday choices around consumption can reflect deeper ethical and spiritual values. Rabbi Neril emphasizes that environmental stewardship is not only a scientific or political issue but also a moral one rooted in long-standing religious teachings.
The episode also touches on his international work, including speaking engagements at the UN Environment Assembly and global interfaith climate summits, as well as his role in organizing conferences and publishing research on faith-based environmental education. Through this lens, the conversation frames climate action as a shared responsibility across traditions, grounded in both ancient wisdom and contemporary urgency.
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