Sarah is the Director of Environmental Education and Conservation Policy ²¹³ÙÌýA Rocha International (), an international Christian NGO engaged in scientific research, environmental ...
GROUPE DE COMMISSION DE L'UICN
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ CEESP Religion, Spirituality, Conservation and Climate Justice Specialist Group
Vue d'ensemble et description
Description:
The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ CEESP Religion, Spirituality, Environmental Conservation and Climate Justice (RESPECC) Specialist Group focuses on outreach to faith-based institutions, movements and networks, as well as ...
Leadership de groupe
Ms Sarah FRENCH
Chair
Sarah is the Director of Environmental Education and Conservation Policy at A Rocha International (), an international Christian NGO engaged in scientific research, environmental education, climate action and community-based conservation projects in over 20 countries around the world. A Rocha International is an Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ member.
Sarah oversees the strategic management and growth of Environmental Education by strengthening the organisation worldwide to deliver environmentally and culturally relevant programmes and strategies that encourage environmental sensitivity, ethical responsibilities, and sustainable lifestyles and livelihoods. In Conservation Policy, Sarah is responsible for ensuring high-level representation of the organisation in key international fora, such as Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ WCC, the Conferences of the Parties of the UNCBD and the UNFCCC, and for overseeing the development of related conservation policies.
Prior to this, Sarah was A Rocha International’s Director of International Operations, and oversaw the strategic management, support, growth and flourishing of A Rocha Organisations worldwide.
Sarah has lived in Latin America and several European countries, and worked extensively both there and worldwide (Africa, Asia, North America) She has a wide range of experience from practice to policy at the local, regional and international level. Sarah lives in Geneva, Switzerland, and has an office at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥, Gland.
With crosscutting conservation and international development experience, Sarah has worked for many years as a university and college lecturer, consultant and practitioner, in the areas of biodiversity and business, faith and conservation, alternative livelihoods, climate mitigation and adaptation, environment education and conservation policy.
Sarah has lectured in International Development, Environment and Geography at various UK universities including Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge; The University of Chester; and at the Centre of International Development and Training at Wolverhampton University.
Sarah has carried out consultancies across diverse sectors including trade, education, conservation, ecotourism, forestry and agriculture with public, private and not-for-profit organizations worldwide, such as DFID, DGEF, FAO, GAIN, GAVI, GIZ, governments of Costa Rica and the Netherlands, ICTSD, IFC, ILO, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥, PROFOR, PROFOREST, Stockholm Convention, UNDP, UNEP BTI, and WWF International.
As a practising Christian, Sarah lives out her faith through her commitment to social justice and environmental sustainability, and is passionate about connecting people and nature.
Mr SHANTANU MANDAL
Co-Chair
Shantanu Mandal is a graduate in Fashion Design from the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology in Kolkata, India and also holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. He is passionate about values and how they can be lived and applied in the fields of education, well-being, youth and the environment. In 2019, Shantanu was one of seven youths to be funded by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to attend COP 25 in Madrid. Since then he has been representing the Brahma Kumaris Youth at a number of high profile environmental conferences. For more than 10 years he lived in Mt.Abu in the Brahma Kumaris HQ at Mt.Abu now he is supporting in the International coordinating office of the Brahma Kumaris in London.
Shantanu Mandal is a graduate in Fashion Design from the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology in Kolkata, India and also holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. He is passionate about ...
Housed within the CEESP Theme on Culture, Spirituality and Conservation, ReSpECC’s mandate is to assist with the implementation of Resolution 009/12 of the World Conservation Congress, creating dialogue and cooperation between spiritual and faith-based organisations and networks in the fulfillment of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥â€™s mission.Â
The ethos of ReSpECC is to promote inter-religious cooperation and understanding, intercultural cooperation and caring for our planet. Religion and spirituality are understood to include main stream religions, spiritual traditions including indigenous and local belief systems, and modern non-religious spiritualism.Â
As the planet enters into difficult and in some cases irreversible climate and environmental changes, Faith-based organisations and networks are taking much of the strain in providing relief services. Churches, mosques and temples provide physical assistance during droughts and floods, and they also help communities and survivors with the emotional and spiritual shocks.
With the release of the Papal Encyclical in 2015, the world's religious leadership, faith-based organisations and networks globally have taken up the challenge of speaking out and engaging with issues of climate justice and the conservation of the environment. This is seen as intimately tied to justice within humanity, ending the degradation of poverty, as well as caring for a world which has sustained us.Â
In 2012, the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ World Conservation Congress in Jeju, Korea, approved Resolution 009 calling on the Union to work closely with Faith-based organisations and networks to acheive its mission. Venerable Do Beop sunim, a distinguished Korean Buddhist monk, lambasted delegates for making compromises with the world's environment and sustainability, as well as praised and honoured everyone in the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ for having committed their lives to the well-being of the planet and all who call this home.Â
In 2015, CEESP has created a dedicated Specialist Group to work with the major religions of the world as well as diverse spiritual traditions, from those nurtured by indigenous peoples to new generation systems that draw on psychology and eco-theology to improve life.Â
Major international networks including the World Council of Churches have been working on environmental and climate justice issues for decades. Religions for Peace, a major global network for inter-religious peace building adopted a commitment to help with climate conflict related issues in 2013. New networks including the Asian Inter-religious Climate and Ecology Network and the African We Have Faith - Act Now for Climate Justice are coalescing as the crises become deeper and more evident in the South.
The Specialist Group (SG) is known by its acronym ReSpECC. It has been engaged in coordination of Faith-based organisations working within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and initiated a parallel process with the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.Â
Here, you will:
- keep up to date with latest developments related to religions, spirituality, environment and climate change issues
- share your work, your ideas and your energyÂ
- form new friendships and partnerships for an action based on our shared values
- help Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ to reimagine conservation - what it means and how it is done
- be constantly inspired!
Join us in bringing compassionate energy to conservation!