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Critical Drivers of Change: Faith Communities & Climate Action

Written by Emily Echevarria
March 21, 2023

Photo by Mat McDermott / GreenFaith / CC BY-NC-ND


The Climate Action Program at the Parliament of the World’s Religions advocates for aggressive action by the national governments, international agencies and financial institutions, and corporations and business entities in implementing and supporting human rights and the right to a healthy environment.

As first reported in the 2022 Annual Report, the Climate Action Task Force (CATF) pushed for the United Nations to formally recognize the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment (R2HE). With the support of our new Director of Climate Action, the CATF directly advocated to the member states of the UN to affirm this critical human right, through coordinated work with various nongovernmental and interfaith organizations. The UN affirmed this right in late July of 2022 with historic support– the resolution received 161 votes in favor and had over 100 co-sponsors. 

As the implementation of this human right moves forward, PoWR believes that faith voices will be crucial drivers of change. The Climate Action Program has continued to pursue the implementation of this right, alongside the Rights of Nature, through advocacy at the United Nations COP27 (on Climate Change) and COP15 (on Biodiversity.) This theme will be a strong one at the upcoming 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions, where the CATF will continue to advocate for strong action to protect our planet and Earth’s biodiversity from the effects of the climate crisis at the Climate Assembly on Monday and throughout the week as part of the Climate Action track.

Answer the call! Register for the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions today.