Our Network's Story so Far

The Women, Faith, and Climate Network was a priority action recommendation from the September 2023 Wilton Park Women Religion and Climate Forum, It builds on the recommendations from the 17 Rooms / Room 5 inspired Women Leading Change global event. It is informed also by the actions set out in the Vatican Joint Appeal process, where leaders of the major faiths committed themselves and their followers to taking practical climate action, and in the Makkah Declaration. It aligns with the recommendations from the high level leaders’ meetings in Abu Dhabi and its Interfaith Statement for COP 28, and works in collaboration with Project Dandelion a women-led global climate justice campaign.

At a meeting in Frascati Italy in October 2024, Women from 20 different countries and 17 different faith and indigenous traditions committed to radical collaboration to scale up the powerful reach and influence of women of faith to go further, faster towards achieving climate goals. Together their network represent more than 73 million people of faith worldwide, with women’s networks made up of groups ranging from the Mothers’ Union with over 4 million members in 83 countries, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation with its 6 million women, and Union of International Superiors General with more than 600,000 Catholic Sisters. The event was jointly convened by Wilton Park an executive agency of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office., the British Embassy to the Holy See, the Irish Embassy to the Holy See, Islamic Relief Worldwide, and the International Union of Superiors General, with support from UNEP Faith for Earth and Project Dandelion, and facilitated by Alison Hilliard, Senior Programme Director at Wilton Park.

Ahead of our Frascati meeting, members sent images and descriptions of their work

Women as climate change agents –the value proposition

According to the IPCC Climate Change 2023 report, the major barrier to phasing out fossil fuels is political will. Women are powerful change agents! They are:

· INFLUENCERS Women are among the most impacted by climate change, and are essential drivers to deliver the policy and lifestyle changes at global and local levels necessary to control carbon emissions and secure a livable planet.

· ACTIVISTS Women of diverse faiths are already frontline climate activists around the world; they are key change agents for climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience in their communities

· NETWORKED Through their faith affiliations, they are well networked with broad influence and reach.

· COLLABORATORS The impact of their activities and advocacy would be greatly multiplied through collaboration across faith lines, and by joining in mass mobilizations by secular campaigns.