Spiritual sustainability: a Swedish Bishop speaks out

Bishop Andreas Holmberg speaks about spirituality and sustainability at a side event of the UN Stockholm +50 Sustainable Development Conference in June 2022. This side event was co-organized by: Swedish Pentecostal International Relief and Development Agency, LM International, SMC-faith in Development, Faith for Earth Initiative within UNEP.

This talk explores the idea that sustainability discussions often focus too narrowly on economic, social, and ecological dimensions while overlooking the deeper need for spiritual sustainability. The speaker argues that human beings are more than biological or socioeconomic entities—we are also spiritual beings shaped by meaning, purpose, and values.

The discussion highlights the importance of storytelling within faith traditions and how religious communities have long helped societies imagine what a flourishing and just life can look like. In a world increasingly driven by technology, statistics, and economic systems, the speaker suggests that humanity urgently needs new stories—or the rediscovery of older wisdom traditions—to guide collective action toward a more sustainable future.

The video emphasizes that while science, economics, and technology are essential, they alone cannot provide the moral vision and existential resilience needed for lasting change. Faith traditions and theology, the speaker argues, play a unique role in inspiring hope, community, and a shared vision for a just and sustainable society.