Dr. Sailesh Rao on Responsibility towards the Planet (UN Climate Change Conference)
Is the climate crisis, at its core, a failure of spiritual living? In this talk delivered at the UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco, in November 2016, Dr. Sailesh Rao examines climate change through the lens of a spiritual crisis, exploring how individuals have increasingly disregarded the fundamental principles of spiritual living in favor of convenience, consumption, and disconnection from nature. He argues that humanity’s environmental responsibility cannot be separated from personal spiritual discipline — suggesting that the erosion of mindful, values-driven living has directly contributed to the ecological damage now facing the planet. Dr. Rao’s reflection calls for a return to spiritual principles as a foundation for genuine environmental responsibility, framing individual accountability as inseparable from collective climate action. His talk adds an important voice to the broader conversation on the spiritual roots of the climate crisis at the UN summit. Viewers interested in related themes can also…
The Spiritual Root of Climate Change (UN Climate Change Conference)
What is the deeper spiritual cause behind the climate crisis? At a press conference held by Rabbi Yonatan Neril during the Marrakesh Climate Conference, His Eminence Archbishop Seraphim Kykkotis offers his perspective on this question, exploring the spiritual roots underlying humanity’s environmental destruction. Speaking from an Orthodox Christian standpoint, Archbishop Kykkotis examines how a departure from spiritual values — humility, restraint, and reverence for creation — has contributed to the ecological crisis the world now faces. His remarks add an important Orthodox Christian voice to the broader interfaith dialogue on the spiritual dimensions of climate change, reinforcing a recurring theme across faith traditions at the UN summit: that lasting environmental solutions must address not just external behavior, but the inner spiritual condition driving it. Viewers interested in related themes can also check out a companion video on responsibility towards the planet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OKG8b6dnQM&t=1s
How can Faith Communities be Inspired to take Environmental Action? (UN Climate Change Conference)
How can faith communities move from awareness to genuine environmental action? At COP22 in Marrakech, Valériane Bernard of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, speaking as a UN Representative, addresses this practical question directly. She explores concrete means and strategies for inspiring religious communities to translate spiritual values into tangible environmental engagement, examining what motivates faith-based groups to move beyond passive concern toward active participation in climate solutions. Bernard’s insights draw on her experience at the intersection of spirituality and international policy, offering a roadmap for religious leaders and institutions seeking to mobilize their congregations around environmental issues. Her talk contributes a practical, action-oriented perspective to the broader interfaith conversation on climate change happening at the UN summit. Viewers interested in related themes can also check out a companion video on the spiritual root of climate change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFYf4pwj0JU&t=10s
Rabbi on the US Elections, Faith and Environment (UN Climate Change Conference)
Does what’s preached from the pulpit shape how people vote? At COP22 in Marrakech, Rabbi Yonatan Neril, Founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, explores this compelling question, examining the link between environmental messaging within faith communities and the political choices of their members. Speaking in the context of the US elections, Rabbi Neril considers how religious leaders and institutions can influence public attitudes toward environmental policy simply by addressing ecological responsibility as part of their spiritual teaching. His remarks highlight the often-overlooked political dimension of faith-based environmental advocacy, suggesting that when religious communities engage seriously with environmental stewardship, it can ripple outward into broader civic and electoral behavior. This talk adds an important perspective on the intersection of religion, politics, and climate action at the UN summit. Viewers interested in related themes can also check out a companion video on spiritual empowerment to fight the…
Faith Leaders and Addressing the Ecological Crisis (UN Climate Conference)
How should faith leaders speak to their communities about the ecological crisis? At COP22 in Marrakech, His Eminence Archbishop Seraphim Kykkotis, Orthodox Metropolitan of Zimbabwe and Angola, addresses this question directly, offering guidance on how religious leaders can effectively engage their congregations on environmental issues. Drawing on his position within the Orthodox Christian tradition, Archbishop Kykkotis explores the responsibility faith leaders carry in shaping how their communities understand and respond to the climate crisis, emphasizing the pastoral and moral duty to address ecological concerns from a place of spiritual authority. His remarks contribute an important Orthodox Christian perspective on religious leadership and environmental communication to the broader interfaith dialogue at the UN summit. Viewers interested in related themes can also check out a companion video on Rabbi Yonatan Neril’s views on the US elections, faith, and the environment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LElivRFJOw4&t=1s
To Restore the Spiritual Jihad for the Environment (UN Climate Change Conference)
What does “jihad” truly mean in the context of environmental responsibility? At COP22 in Marrakech, Imam Ibrahim Saidy of the Islamic Council of Norway and the Daru Salaam Centre explores the concept of spiritual jihad — the inner struggle for moral and spiritual discipline — and its restoration as a framework for environmental action. Rather than the commonly misunderstood connotations often associated with the term, Imam Saidy reclaims “jihad” in its authentic sense: a personal, spiritual striving toward righteousness, which he applies directly to humanity’s responsibility toward the Earth. He argues that restoring this spiritual struggle within Islamic practice can serve as a powerful motivator for genuine environmental stewardship, reframing ecological care as a core expression of faith and inner discipline rather than an external obligation. His remarks offer an important Islamic theological perspective on environmental responsibility at the UN summit. Viewers interested in related themes can also check out…
Faith-Inspired Eco Action: Valeriane Bernard, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (COP22)
What does faith-inspired environmental action actually look like in practice? At COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco, Valériane Bernard, UN Representative of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, explores this question, sharing insights into how spiritually grounded action can create meaningful, tangible change in the fight against climate change. She examines the ways in which faith communities can move beyond dialogue and awareness to implement concrete environmental initiatives, drawing on spiritual principles as a driving force for sustained action rather than fleeting concern. Bernard’s perspective highlights the practical power of combining spiritual conviction with environmental activism, offering a model for how faith-based organizations can contribute meaningfully to global climate solutions. Her talk adds a valuable voice to the broader interfaith conversation on turning belief into action at the UN summit. Viewers interested in related themes can also check out a companion video on restoring the spiritual jihad for the environment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY6Nv_U2ceA&t=9s
Bill McKibben on Faith & Fossil Fuel Divestment
Should religious institutions have a financial stake in the fossil fuel industry? Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and renowned author, makes a compelling case that they shouldn’t. In this talk, McKibben calls on churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious institutions to divest their financial holdings from fossil fuel companies, arguing that continued investment in an industry driving climate change stands in direct contradiction to the moral and spiritual values these institutions represent. He frames divestment not merely as a financial decision, but as a powerful ethical statement — one that aligns religious institutions’ resources with their teachings on stewardship, justice, and care for creation. McKibben’s message challenges faith communities to move beyond symbolic environmental gestures toward substantive, systemic action that leverages their collective financial influence for climate impact. Those inspired to act can learn more and join the fossil fuel divestment campaign at gofossilfree.org. http://gofossilfree.org
Divestment/Investment Conference 2015‐Concluding Plenary: What’s Next? The Case for Action by Catho
What comes next in the movement for faith-based fossil fuel divestment, and what is the specific case for Catholic action? This concluding plenary session from the Divestment/Investment Conference 2015 brings together a distinguished panel to explore these questions in depth. Rev. Fletcher Harper of GreenFaith, Dr. Ellen Dorsey of the Wallace Global Fund, and Dr. Anthony Annett of Religions for Peace and the Earth Institute at Columbia University each offer their perspectives on the path forward for divestment as a climate strategy, with particular attention to the moral and theological case for Catholic institutions to take action. Moderated by Amanda Hanley of the Hanley Foundation, the discussion examines how the broader divestment movement can build momentum, and what unique responsibility the Catholic Church holds given its global reach and theological emphasis on stewardship and social justice. This plenary offers a substantive, multi-perspective look at the strategic and ethical dimensions of…