Faith and Environmental Governance

Self-Paced E-Learning Course

 It is increasingly recognised that faith leaders and faith-based organizations (FBOs) are essential contributors towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing environmental and climatic crises. Acknowledging this, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the Faith for Earth Initiative to strategically engage with FBOs, mobilise greater faith-inspired environmental action, scale-up faith actors’ capacities and catalyse greater synergies between them and other stakeholders. This short, self-paced, e-learning course, focusing on environmental governance, forms part of this commitment.

The world today faces a triple planetary crisis consisting of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and pollution and waste. Effective environmental governance is more essential than ever to address the different dimensions of these immense environmental challenges. Good environmental governance requires the active participation of all stakeholders and sectors of society, at all levels and in all countries. This course focuses on the role of faith actors in processes of environmental governance, from local to global levels, and ensuring that the unique qualities, capabilties and perspectives that faith actors bring are increasingly recognised and leveraged.


    • At the end of this course, participants will:
  • Understand environmental governance, its relation to sustainable development and the SDGs, and the need to strengthen governance networks and cooperation between different stakeholders
  • Recognise the various ways, mechanisms, frameworks and strategies designed to establish and improve environmental governance, with a particular emphasis on the role of the UN system.
  • Have knowledge of different faith perspectives relating to environmental governance and the important role faith actors can play in galvanising momentum to implement and improve it.
  • Have seen examples of activities already underway by faith actors, where inspiration can be drawn.

Certification

A Certificate of Completion will be issued to participants who achieve a minimum total score of 70%.

About UNEP

Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnerships in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UNEP works closely with its 193 Member States and representatives from civil society, businesses, and other major groups and stakeholders to address environmental challenges through the UN Environment Assembly, the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.

This e-learning course has deepened my understanding of the current climate crisis and provided valuable insight into the vital role faith actors can play in strengthening and implementing environmental governance. It highlights how their influence in shaping worldviews, behaviors, and collective action can work hand in hand with secular incentives to advance environmental protection. The course also underscores that science and religion are not contradictory; rather, they are interconnected and can collaborate to ensure better living conditions and a more sustainable future—an approach that is not often emphasized.
Yasmine Janari, Course Participant, Tunisia