Can Faith Communities promote a Sustainable Future?
How can faith communities become active drivers of a sustainable future, rather than passive observers of the climate crisis? This piece captures a panel discussion featuring Allen Johnson, Dr. Mark Axelrod, Professor of International Relations, and Fred Krueger, Executive Coordinator for the National Religious Coalition for Creation Care, as they explore this critical question at a Faith and Science Earth Alliance event. Organized by the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development and held at Columbia University in New York City, the discussion brings together diverse expertise — spanning grassroots religious activism, international policy analysis, and interfaith environmental coalition-building — to examine practical pathways for faith communities to lead on sustainability. The panelists consider how religious institutions can leverage their moral authority, community networks, and institutional resources to drive meaningful environmental change, offering a multidisciplinary perspective on the intersection of faith, policy, and ecological action. Viewers interested in further exploring this theme…
Importance of Lobbying for Sustainability
Beyond prayer and personal action, should faith communities be actively lobbying policymakers on environmental issues? Fazlun Khalid, founder of the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, makes the case that they should. In this talk, delivered at a Faith and Science Earth Alliance event organized by the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University in New York City, Khalid explores why political advocacy is a crucial and often underutilized tool for faith communities seeking to drive real environmental change. He argues that religious institutions carry significant moral authority and collective influence that can be strategically directed toward political engagement, pushing for policy changes that individual or congregational action alone cannot achieve. Drawing on his experience founding one of the pioneering Islamic environmental organizations, Khalid offers a compelling case for faith communities to move beyond internal reflection and actively engage with the political process to advance sustainability. Viewers interested…
Discussion on Responsible Ecological Faith Leadership
Rev. Dr. Owen Owens (co-chair for the Religious Campaign for Creation care), Fazlun Khalid (founder of the Islamic Foundation of Ecology and the Environment) and Dr. Lise van Susteren (executive coordinator for the National Religious Coalition for Creation) share thoughts on what responsible ecological faith leadership looks like at a Faith and Science Earth Alliance event organized by the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development and held at Columbia University, New York City. If you are interested in seeing more on ecological faith leadership, please see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFAmO7TFl0M
Green Visions of Development with Dr. Sadhvi B. Saraswati
What does truly sustainable development look like, and how can it be shaped by spiritual vision? At a conference in New York City, Dr. Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati and Fred Krueger share their ideas, projects, and goals for advancing green development, offering a compelling vision for how environmental sustainability and human progress can move forward hand in hand. Presented at a Faith and Science Earth Alliance event organized by the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development and held at Columbia University, this discussion explores concrete projects and forward-thinking strategies for building a more sustainable future, grounded in both practical innovation and spiritual purpose. Dr. Saraswati and Krueger bring complementary perspectives — spiritual leadership and interfaith environmental coordination — to the conversation, illustrating how green development initiatives can be strengthened when rooted in shared values and collaborative vision. Viewers interested in exploring related themes in sustainable development can check out a related video…
The Soul Within Every Living Thing and What That Means for Us
While on a recent trip to Jerusalem, Swami Avdheshanand Giri and Swami Parmatmananda Saraswati were interviewed by Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founder and director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development. They shared ideas and Hindu wisdom about the soul within every living thing and what that means for us. If you are interested in seeing more spiritual insight on nature, please see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bz2PCxhKUg&t=4s Swami Avdheshanand Giri, an enlightened Acharya and master of Vedanta, aims at making a spiritually awakened human being. Swamiji is the head of millions of saints. More than a hundred thousand of saints have been initiated by the Acharya. Swamiji has attracted a large number of intellectuals, teachers and social workers and has motivated them to work for the promotion of human rights, moral values, social harmony and social discipline. Over the last 19 years Swamiji has dedicated himself to the pursuit and sharing of…
The Power of Positive Thoughts
While on a recent trip to Jerusalem, Swami Avdheshanand Giri and Swami Parmatmananda Saraswati were interviewed by Rabbi Yonatan Neril, Founder and Director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development. They shared ideas and Hindu wisdom about the power of positive thinking. If you are interested in learning more about enhancing yourself and your lifestyle, please see this video on nature and spirituality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bz2PCxhKUg Swami Avdheshanand Giri, an enlightened Acharya and master of Vedanta, aims at making a spiritually awakened human being. Swamiji is the head of millions of saints. More than a hundred thousand of saints have been initiated by the Acharya. Swamiji has attracted a large number of intellectuals, teachers and social workers and has motivated them to work for the promotion of human rights, moral values, social harmony and social discipline. Over the last 19 years Swamiji has dedicated himself to the pursuit and sharing of the…
Ecological Conversion with Rabbi Yonatan Neril
What does it mean to undergo an “ecological conversion” — and how can this concept, rooted in Catholic teaching, resonate across faith traditions? In this talk, Rabbi Yonatan Neril explores this powerful idea, examining what it truly means to shift one’s inner orientation toward genuine care and responsibility for the natural world. Recorded as part of a longer presentation for a Catholic conference in Rome in 2016, Rabbi Neril’s remarks offer a distinctly interfaith perspective on a term popularized within Catholic environmental theology, demonstrating how the concept of spiritual transformation toward ecological consciousness can bridge different religious traditions. He frames ecological conversion not as a one-time realization, but as an ongoing spiritual process — one that reshapes how individuals relate to creation, consumption, and their responsibility toward future generations. This talk adds a valuable interfaith dimension to a concept central to contemporary Catholic environmental thought. Viewers interested in exploring related…
What Hurricane Matthew Can Teach Us?
Natural disasters often force us to confront uncomfortable truths, and Hurricane Matthew is no exception. This piece explores what lessons can be drawn from the storm’s devastation, examining what it reveals about humanity’s relationship with nature and the roles individuals and societies play in either mitigating or exacerbating environmental risk. Rather than viewing Hurricane Matthew as an isolated natural event, this reflection situates it within a broader conversation about climate change, vulnerability, and moral responsibility — asking what such disasters teach us about the urgency of environmental stewardship and preparedness. Prepared as part of a longer presentation for a Catholic conference in Rome in 2016, this piece brings a faith-informed lens to disaster reflection, framing the aftermath of extreme weather events as an opportunity for spiritual and ethical reckoning rather than simply a matter of policy or infrastructure. Viewers interested in further commentary on hurricanes and their broader implications can…
The Role of Faith Leaders in Combating Climate Change
For similar content, please see this video on why religious leaders must come together on ecology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUZVjYD31AU. While on a recent trip to Jerusalem, in an interview with Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founder and director of The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, Swami Avdheshanand Giri and Swami Parmatmananda Saraswati shared their beliefs about the role of faith leaders in combating climate change. Swami Avdheshanand Giri, an enlightened Acharya and master of Vedanta, aims at making a spiritually awakened human being. Swamiji is the head of millions of saints. More than a hundred thousand of saints have been initiated by the Acharya. Swamiji has attracted a large number of intellectuals, teachers and social workers and has motivated them to work for the promotion of human rights, moral values, social harmony and social discipline. Over the last 19 years Swamiji has dedicated himself to the pursuit and sharing of the vast bounty of…