We face major sustainability challenges in the 21st Century. Fortunately, we have a unique opportunity to implement solutions at a global scale. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) grew out of a pioneering idea to mobilize the world around a global framework for sustainability. The SDGs followed from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were in effect from 2000 to 2015 and spurred unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the world’s poorest. In 2015, as the MDGs reached their target date, the UN adopted a new set of goals designed for a new era. The SDGs have a broader scope focused on environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and economic development. The set of 17 goals signals a recognition that our challenges are interlinked.

This report focuses on the progress Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) have made toward the six environmental SDGs – 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Activities intersecting with SDG 4 are also assessed. To capture a broad range of activity, we define FBO as any institution, organization, or congregation affiliated with a religious, faith-based, indigenous, or spiritual tradition.