最著名的例子是教皇弗朗西斯(Pope Francis) 2015年发布的关于环境的通谕(encyclical)以及2015年的《伊斯兰气候宣言》（Islamic Declaration on Climate）。基督教新教(Protestant Christian)，印度教(Hindu)，佛教(Buddhist)和犹太(Jewish)社区的重要领导人也都提出这一问题。

2015年12月，来自美国的宗教代表在巴黎的COP21气候大会谈判中表现不凡，并作出“巴黎承诺”，保证为降低碳排放贡献力量。

有4500多个宗教团体和个人一致表示，到2030年将把自身的碳排放量削减一半，到2050年实现零排放。总部位于旧金山的联盟组织“跨信仰动能与光源”( Interfaith Power & Light)的莎莉·宾汉姆（Sally Bingham），还应邀到美国在巴黎气候谈判上的官方公共宣传平台美国中心(U.S. Center)，展示该组织的工作。

跨信仰动能与光源组织相信，通过以身作则，它的成员向世界各国领导人展示一条通向未来更清洁能源的道路。

许多联盟成员正在为减少碳排放改用更节能的灯泡，并在屋顶安装太阳能板和采用地热系统。

美国国务院宗教和全球事务特别代表肖恩·凯西(Shaun Casey)，在赞扬宗教代表的参与时说：“我们需要社会各界的积极参与，包括州和地方政府，企业界，公民社会及其他各方。”

他表示，宗教领袖“具有道德说服力，可以激发人们对全球环境问题采取行动，并展现希望。”

此外还有经济效益。据美国环境保护署(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)估计，如果大约37万个美国宗教团体将其能源使用量只削减20％，就会为他们每年节省近6.3亿美元。节省的电能所减少的温室气体排放量相当于每年减少48万辆路上行车，或种植6万棵树。

凯西说：“巴黎协议不仅仅是各个国家齐心协力，它也关系到城市、州、宗教团体、公民活动家以及其他各方携其手来，以新的视角看待地球未来，给子孙后代留下一个更好的世界。”

The world’s major religions have long expressed concern about the harm climate change can do to the planet, especially poorer communities that lie along vulnerable coastlines or suffer the ill health effects of pollution.

The most famous examples are Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment and the Islamic Declaration on Climate, both released in 2015. But prominent leaders from the Protestant Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish communities are also raising the issue.

Religious representatives from the U.S. made a strong showing in Paris at the COP21 negotiations in December 2015 and took the “Paris pledge,” promising to do their part to lower carbon emissions.

More than 4,500 faith communities and individuals agreed to cut their carbon footprint in half by 2030 and become completely carbon neutral by 2050. Sally Bingham from Interfaith Power and Light, a coalition based in San Francisco, was even invited to present the group’s work at the U.S. Center, the official U.S. public outreach platform at the Paris Climate negotiations.

Interfaith Power & Light believes that by living as examples, its members show world leaders a path to a cleaner energy future.

Many coalition members are changing to more efficient light bulbs and installing solar rooftops and geothermal systems, in order to reduce their carbon footprints.

“We need the engagement of all segments of our society, including state and local governments, the business community, civil society and others,” said Shaun Casey, the special representative for religion and global affairs for the U.S. Department of State, in lauding the involvement of religious representatives.

Religious leaders “have a moral voice and can inspire action with regard to global environmental issues and offer hope,” he said.

Moreover, there’s an economic benefit.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if the approximately 370,000 U.S. religious communities cut their energy use by only 20 percent, it would save them nearly $630 million per year. The electricity saved would reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as taking 480,000 cars off the road or planting 60,000 trees every year.

“The Paris Agreement is more than nations coming together,” Casey said.  “It is about cities, states, religious communities, citizen activists, and othersjoining together to take a new view about the future of the planet and leaving it a better place for those who come after us.”