History

Born in the spirit of the 1992 Earth Summit, GreenFaith has grown from local roots in New Jersey to a global interfaith movement. Our history is one of communities uniting across traditions to care for Earth and all who call it home
On this page:
1992
Founding
  • 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.

Late 1990s – Early 2000s
  • 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.

2005
Fellowship & Sanctuary Programs
  • 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.

2009
Shift to Activist Campaigning
  • 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.

2010s
Expanding Global Campaigns
  • 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).

Late 2010s
Increasing Religious Awareness
  • 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.

2019 – Present
Distributed Organizing & Global Reach
  • 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.

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