In partnership with the Alliance of Religions and Conservation,  the Bishop hosted a key meeting to discuss how major secular organisations are already engaging faith communities on the environment, and how they can best work together in the future.

It was a chance for organisations including the World Bank, The Nature Conservancy and Rabobank Foundation (from one of the major Dutch ethical banks) to meet with senior representatives from religious organisations involved in environmental work (including EcoSikh, the Bhumi Project, the China Daoist Association’s Eco Temple Alliance). The aim was to explore in what way the faiths might be involved more effectively as partners in protecting the environment and addressing issues designed to end extreme poverty by 2030.

They discussed the role of religion in international programs on environmental conservation, sustainable development, eradication of poverty, and climate change. And they discussed how they could work together.

Martin Palmer, Secretary General of ARC, said:

“Participants returned with a clearer sense on why secular organisations might want the faiths as partners, and why the faiths might be interested in working with secular organisations.”

The Bishop of London was at the time the senior environmental bishop of the Church of England both in the UK and internationally.

The Alliance of Religion and Conservation (ARC), has for the past two decades catalysed powerful alliances between faith communities and conservation groups on environmental issues. It was founded by HRH the Prince Philip.