GreenFaith was founded in 1992 as a local, volunteer organization in New Jersey, USA.
Founders attended the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and recognized humanity’s responsibility to revere and protect the planet.
This awakening and commitment to grassroots religious leadership still guides GreenFaith today.
Focused on educating people of diverse religions in New Jersey about the moral and spiritual basis for environmental protection.
Programs included greening religious facilities, conducting energy audits, financing and installing solar arrays, and advocating for clean air legislation.
Work emphasized three religious themes: spirituality, stewardship, and justice.
Goal: raise awareness, promote sustainable living within religious communities, and lay groundwork for national climate legislation in the US.
Launched the GreenFaith Fellowship Program, a national leadership development initiative.
Created the GreenFaith Sanctuary Program, enabling houses of worship to green their rituals, education, facilities, and outreach.
After the failed Copenhagen climate summit, GreenFaith recognized that powerful forces opposed real climate action.
Shifted focus toward activist campaigning, believing that diverse faith communities engaging in peaceful public campaigns could transform society.
Became an early leader in the fossil fuel divestment movement.
Mobilized thousands of faith members for the People’s Climate Marches.
Co-led Our Voices, a multi-faith campaign for a climate agreement at COP21 (Paris).
Supported global Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist climate statements.
Helped launch initiatives such as:
The Shine Campaign (universal access to clean energy)
The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative (protecting rainforests and Indigenous rights)
Living the Change (promoting climate-friendly living).
By the late 2010s, climate awareness within faith communities had grown, though many still did not prioritize it.
Climate impacts worsened while governments and corporations continued to expand fossil fuel and deforestation projects.
In 2019, GreenFaith committed further to a multi-faith, grassroots, international campaigning approach known as distributed organizing.
Launched the GreenFaith International Network, partnering with organizations in 13 countries.
Campaigning priorities set by a global Board, shaped by grassroots members, partners, and frontline communities.
Organized GreenFaith Circles worldwide, where members engage in education, training, and public leadership.
Circles mobilize against new fossil fuel projects, call for an equitable transition to renewable energy, and advocate for millions of green jobs.
Today:
More than 100 Circles in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
Grassroots religious partners in 40+ countries.
Global HQ in New York City, with legally incorporated offices in Kenya and Germany.
Staff in the US, Germany, France, Kenya, Brazil, Indonesia, and Japan.
GreenFaith remains committed to the moral duty of seeking harmony and justice with Earth.
