“I learned a lot about the different experiences that arise from our cultures and religions, as well as about awareness of privilege.” (Participant Generation GreenFaith 2025)

The first in-person meeting of Generation GreenFaith took place in Karlsruhe from July 25–27, 2025 – a weekend full of encounters, spirituality, and shared visions for climate justice. As joint hosts for the first time, GreenFaith France and GreenFaith Germany invited around 25 climate activists from very diverse backgrounds to Karlsruhe.

“…that I have gotten to know my story and my motivation better – this strengthens my vision.” (Participant)

Experience community and spiritual strengthening

The opening event was all about arrival and multi-religious solidarity . After a warm welcome, we lit the green GreenFaith candle as a symbol of our shared hope. Then the participants got to know each other better during speed dating. 

“What spiritual or deep experiences do you connect with the earth/nature/environment?”

In small groups, we shared our ” climate biographies” with each other . This was an invitation to understand our own story as part of this change. Because our spirituality, our own experiences, and the values ​​and attitudes that shape us are powerful resources for climate engagement.

The concluding “Shabbat prayer for Gaza” by Sophie from Paris made the call for justice loud.

“I found the connections and the various spiritual and creative impulses so enriching.” (Participant)

Combining theology, art and climate activism

Kicking off on Saturday: This generation of GreenFaith is musical and spontaneous, so there was jamming, stomping, and singing. And prayer.

Afterwards, Amélie Franco from GreenFaith France got us laughing and feeling with a playback theater workshop—a playful way to listen to one another. In the day’s keynote speech, Dr. Simone Sinn from Münster traced the historical arc of interreligious cooperation, connecting theological tenets of world religions with climate justice.

In the afternoon, we met with local climate activists such as the Karlsruhe Climate Alliance , the Resistance Collective , and the GreenFaith Circle Karlsruhe . Local climate struggles against fossil fuels and deforestation are also taking place, strengthened through actions, alliances, and spiritual moments. 

Shortly thereafter, we found ourselves in the elements – due to heavy rain, our planned excursion was spontaneously relocated to a forest hut. And this created a very special atmosphere for exchanging activist experiences.

Popular Ecology – a decolonial perspective

In the evening, Nadia Omani (Marseille) introduced us to the concept of Popular Ecology – a decolonial ecology that visualizes the connections between ecological crisis, colonialism, and capitalism. The key points:

• Ecology is not only nature conservation, but also resistance against power structures that justify the exploitation of people and the earth.
• It needs the voices of indigenous communities, postcolonial diasporas and alternative cosmologies such as Pachamama , Ubuntu or Vivir Bien .
• Decolonial ecology also means demanding ecological justice – for example, through the fight against environmental racism and for reparations approaches.
• As people of faith, we bear a double responsibility: horizontally within our communities and vertically before God, the Creator.

Nadia’s message to the GreenFaith generation: Resistance requires autonomy, connection and spiritual strength

Nadia Omani

New perspectives on intercultural and decolonial cooperation

The last day was dedicated to two central themes:

Decolonization and intersectionality in the climate movement – ​​with inputs from Khadidja Lahlali (Marseille) and Micheline Pham (Paris), who made power relations, racism and global injustices visible.

Intercultural Collaboration – led by Eleanor McCormick (Stuttgart) and Büsra Cebi (Tübingen). Exercises in deep listening and interreligious dialogue helped us explore new forms of collaboration. In small groups, we planned a fictitious interreligious climate action – a glimpse into what’s possible when our spirituality(ies) and commitment come together.

“We are so grateful that we have all met each other and that there are so many wonderful people who keep the hope for a just and loving world alive.”

Voices and projects from the community

The retreat was also a space to share personal projects and inspirations. 

Tabea (Leipzig) presented her book project , which brings together poems and stories from Lebanon – a product of the “Lebanon Poetry Project.” Dayana (Berlin) reported on a project in her home country of Colombia, where local groups are protecting turtles from extinction. Micheline (Paris) spoke about her work with Collectif Vietnam Dioxine in France, which supports victims of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War. Milka (Pakistan) presented interreligious cooperation in times of natural disasters. Khadija (Marseille) shared her approach to decolonization, and Svenja (Berlin/Nairobi) is currently starting her own sustainable safari business in Kenya. Peggy composes her own songs and lyrics that revolve around the search for spirituality and closeness to nature. We met so many amazing people of faith who are working for a compassionate, just, and loving world.MichelineSvenjaMilkaKhadija

Our conclusion

The retreat in Karlsruhe demonstrated that climate justice is more than political action—it is a spiritual, cultural, and communal task. Through encounters, shared learning, and shared hope, we are beginning a movement that is locally rooted and globally connected: the “Generation GreenFaith.” 

👉 Follow us on Instagram and stay connected with #GenerationGreenFaith – and in 2026 there will be exciting new formats that you can register for soon.

The post Review: Generation GreenFaith Retreat in Karlsruhe appeared first on GreenFaith.

From September 19 to 21, 2025, we demonstrated with broad and new alliances that climate protection requires our commitment, our spirituality, and our diverse voices.

Friday: First climate demonstration in Ettlingen

On Friday, around 350 people took to the streets in Ettlingen and the southern district of Karlsruhe for climate justice. We were overwhelmed by the energy: Two powerful expert presentations – by Dr. Andrea Meyn (Helmholtz Energy Office) and Prof. Peter Knippertz (KIT) – were combined with a creative role-playing game by Omas for Future and rousing live music.

Over 20 clubs, institutions, and churches participated in the demonstration—a strong signal that climate justice has arrived in our urban society. Thank you to everyone who participated and raised their voices!

Saturday: Ecumenical climate prayer in Horbachpark

“Today we want to give space to spirituality. It is a source of strength and motivation for loving care of our planet.” (Ruth, Omas4Future)

At the ecumenical climate prayer service in Horbach Park, we felt that climate justice is also a question of relationships. 

“Today we want to open a space to experience relationships: relationships with myself, with my fellow creatures, with the earth and with God.”

“Too much, too long, too hot, creation is starving and thirsting, species are becoming extinct, people are losing their livelihoods, and must leave their homes if they want to survive.” (Silke, Catholic Deanery of Ettlingen)“The soil secures our existence; we speak of Mother Earth and Mother Earth.” (Ruth, Omas4Future)

We explored our relationships at four stations: the earth that supports us, the ground beneath our feet, the sun around us, and life with one another.

“ Who is my climate neighbor? Climate justice means neighborliness across borders.” (Caroline, GreenFaith eV)

At the subsequent participatory picnic, project presentations were held, including the upcycling workshop by Scientists for Future: “Build your own balcony power plants from old, but functional, solar panels,” and formulating wishes for a “future city of Ettlingen” based on the models of Paris and Tübingen. With the original globe from the photo project “my globe your globe,” one’s own view of the world became an experience.

Sunday: Climate art exhibition and church service

Sunday morning: Choir singing, clear sermons, a full church, a strengthening community. After Holy Mass at the Sacred Heart Church , photographs, paintings, and poems from the “Life in Crisis – Solidarity in Art” exhibition were shown, touching many people and sparking conversations about the climate crisis.

This climate weekend has shown: We need both – protest on the streets and the spiritual strength that sustains us. And we need each other as a community that inspires courage.

We conclude by asking for blessings for all our future actions: 

God, Creator of heaven and earth, let rain fall upon us like blessings, protect us like the animals and plants. Be with us on every path, no matter how rocky. Amen.

The post Local Climate Weekend: Spirituality, Protest, and Art for Our Earth appeared first on GreenFaith.

The sun is always shining, sometimes more, sometimes less. We’ve all gotten sunburned at some point, even though we thought it wasn’t that hot, right? And not just in faraway countries, but right here on our doorstep. It’s often irrelevant to our everyday lives, but the fact that the sun shines every day, the same for everyone, is breathtaking. What’s more, it costs absolutely nothing to lie in the sun and work on your tan a little. So why not use the same effect to make your own lifestyle more sustainable.

What is photovoltaics?

Renewable energies are on everyone’s lips in the face of the climate crisis, and this includes solar energy, the conversion of solar radiation (light and heat) into usable household electricity. We use electricity every day and pay for it, even though we could produce it ourselves for free in the long run – and in a climate-friendly way, too. All you need is a few solar panels on your roof or even your balcony. A few square meters of open space are enough to cover part of your electricity needs, reduce CO2 emissions, and save money.

The exhibition: Knowledge to take away

If you’re still unsure whether this could be something for your balcony or roof, how much it costs, and whether it’s worth it, then we’d like to recommend the exhibition “Photovoltaics – Solar Power – By Everyone for Everyone .” The exhibition answers all these questions and more on information panels that can even be sent by mail. This makes the exhibition ideal for churches, environmental groups, clubs, or community centers – as an information offering at action days, lectures, or in the foyer. You can also turn it into a campaign and place a group order at the end to order even more effectively and cost-effectively. Solar energy can be harvested almost anywhere these days. The exhibition aims to encourage and impart knowledge – in a practical, understandable, and motivating way.

Preserving the earth is always worthwhile – for this generation and even more so for those who come after us.

Summer and winter, sowing and harvest—as long as the earth endures!!! These foundations must not be shaken. Therefore, it is high time to focus on the energy we can harvest from the sun, to see this as a blessing, and to give thanks for the sun’s harvest.

– Andreas Krone, initiator of “Photovoltaics by all for all” and author of the book “Solar Thanksgiving”

Because one thing is clear: the energy transition will only succeed if we all participate. And photovoltaics, in particular, makes it easy for us – decentralized, scalable, and affordable. The exhibition shows how it’s done.

The post Photovoltaics by everyone for everyone – The exhibition for loan appeared first on GreenFaith.

Why bees preserve our environment

Bees pollinate approximately 75% of the world’s plants that produce food for humans. Fruit, vegetable, and nut trees are heavily dependent on effective pollination by bees – and thus, so are we humans. Bees also pollinate plants that don’t produce food, such as wildflowers, which in turn provide habitat for other animals. Thus, bees maintain the food chains on which all life depends.

“Planetary boundaries are defined for those nine biophysical systems and processes that regulate the functioning of life-support systems on Earth and thus ultimately determine the stability and resilience of the Earth system.”  (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

Six of these nine “planetary boundaries” have currently been exceeded. These include climate change and changes in the integrity of the biosphere. For this reason, in the “Bees for Peace” project, we want to work together to preserve biodiversity in our habitats and places of worship. 

Bees as ambassadors for interreligious dialogue

Our board member, research associate at the University of Cologne, postdoctoral researcher, and activist Dr. Carrie Dohe first launched the “Bees for Peace” project in Canada. Her research focuses on how faith, environmental protection, and climate protection intersect and influence religious traditions. Now she wants to expand the project in Germany.

The project has two goals:

1. To increase public awareness and commitment to the protection of pollinating insects and the conservation of biodiversity.
2. To promote peace by connecting faith and non-religious communities with each other, as well as with schools, bee conservation organizations, and horticultural experts.

I believe that religious communities have great potential for protecting our shared planet, but don’t always utilize it. Often, they have other concerns. Today, many religious communities are addressing growing social tensions and engaging in interreligious dialogue as a possible solution. Although most religions today possess well-thought-out eco-theologies and knowledge about protecting the environment, this knowledge is not accessible to all members of faith communities. “Bees for Peace” combines a commitment to peace and social cohesion with the scientific insights and practical know-how to easily fulfill their ecological obligations.” – Dr. Carrie Dohe

To help achieve these goals, various initiatives are available: You can book age-appropriate and tradition-sensitive events to educate children about the importance of bees, plan a (interfaith) children’s camp where children develop an understanding of biological and cultural diversity, or create “Paths of Peace.” These are imaginary paths leading from one place of worship to the other. Both communities create a small pollinator garden to attract bees. The idea is that the bees pollinate both gardens, creating a bond between the different traditions, all of which share a common goal of protecting the earth. Bees for Peace thus brings together environmental protection and interreligious dialogue. The project thus creates opportunities for different faith communities or other social organizations that share a common goal: the preservation of our precious earth.

“Bees are messengers of peace: They fly across our self-imposed borders to feed on the flowers in all our communities and unite us in a network of peace. May we follow the bees’ example.” Dr. Carrie Dohe

How can I participate?

If you’d like to be part of Bees for Peace, contact Carrie. Whether as an individual or as a faith community, Carrie would be happy to talk with you.

Carrie Dohe

carrie.dohe@beesforpeace.org

Instagram: @beesforpeace

Web: www.beesforpeace.org/

The post Bees for Peace – Promoting Biodiversity and Interreligious Dialogue appeared first on GreenFaith.

For three weeks, the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Church in Tübingen became a space for art, spirituality, and global solidarity. Under the title “Life in Crisis – Solidarity in Art,” the Protestant Student Community of Tübingen (ESG) and the Muslim Student Group of Tübingen (MST) presented the GreenFaith art exhibition.

“Life in Crisis – Solidarity in Art”

The exhibition, curated by the interfaith climate movement GreenFaith, brought works by five international artists to the Tübingen community. Their paintings, poems, photographs, and installations powerfully visualized what often goes unheard: the voices of those most severely affected by climate change. The artistic contributions came from Brazil, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Germany—united by the desire for a more just, livable future.

GreenFaith – a global, spiritually driven movement – ​​sees itself as a coalition of people of diverse faiths working together for climate justice. At the heart of their work is the conviction that all life is sacred and that religions everywhere share values ​​such as compassion, justice, and the preservation of the Earth. The exhibition “Life in Crisis – Solidarity in Art” is an expression of this attitude: art as resistance, as a spiritual tool, and as an invitation to hope.

Art with attitude: The artists

Among the artists featured was Lucy D’Souza-Krone, a Christian-influenced painter from India whose works draw on biblical and Hindu symbolism and address spiritual responsibility for creation.

Paul Podbielski, a photographer from Saxony, documents political protests – from anti-fascist resistance to climate struggles – and uses his camera to reveal the contradictions of our society.

Micha Sass from Dortmund combines music education and photography. His project “My Globe, Your Globe” demonstrates that the globe connects us all – regardless of continent, religion, or origin.

Anne Njambi Gacheru from Kenya is committed to self-empowerment and environmental protection through art and practice – including through beekeeping and educational work with young people.

And finally, Zeegyasa, a young activist from India, poetically embodies the voice of the earth through texts, collages, and installations. Her work calls for understanding nature not as a backdrop, but as a fellow being.

A space for hope and encounter

The opening on May 25th was a successful launch. Visitors from the city and religious communities gathered to explore the works and engage in conversation.

The closing event on June 15th marked the emotional and thematic climax: Caroline Bader, GreenFaith’s Germany coordinator, visited Tübingen and provided deep insights into the global work of the network, which advocates for a just transition to renewable energies, social justice, and spiritual depth in environmental engagement. Her visit was a gift—and a living testimony to global interconnectedness in faith and action.

Particularly noteworthy is the interreligious collaboration between the Protestant Student Community (ESG) and the Muslim Student Group Tübingen (MST). At a time when cultural divides often seem greater than bridges, this cooperation has demonstrated what is possible when common ground is placed at the center: concern for life, respect for creation, and responsibility for future generations.

Thanks and outlook

Our sincere thanks go to the Bonhoeffer congregation in Tübingen, which made its church available as an exhibition space – not just as a backdrop, but as an active place for discussion and dialogue.

This exhibition has enabled encounters – across cultural, religious, and linguistic boundaries. It has presented the climate emergency not only as an ecological problem, but as a spiritual, social, and political challenge of our time.

May it provide an impetus for further discussions, further cooperation and a growing solidarity that goes beyond words.

The post Art as a bridge of hope and interreligious encounter appeared first on GreenFaith.