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The Sunway Charter

Faith in Action

Addressing Planetary Health Challenges through Spiritual Leadership

Introduction

The Sunway Charter – Faith in Action: Addressing Planetary Health Challenges through Spiritual Leadership is a collective call to action, bringing together faith communities, spiritual traditions, Indigenous wisdom, and scientific knowledge to address our time’s urgent environmental and climate crises. Conceptualized at the 2024 Planetary Health Summit (PHAM 2024), the Charter represents a unified commitment to healing our planet by integrating faith-inspired ecological stewardship, ethical responsibility, and community-led action.

Rooted in the principles of justice, stewardship, balance, and interconnectedness, the Charter draws inspiration from spiritual traditions around the world. It reflects the timeless wisdom found in key faith documents such as Al-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth and Laudato Si’. Additionally, it builds on the São Paulo Declaration and the Kuala Lumpur Call to Action. The Charter serves as a reminder that caring for the Earth is not only a scientific imperative but also a moral duty.

Why Faith and Planetary Health?

Humanity stands at a crossroads. The impact of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, combined with geopolitical tensions and societal polarization, threatens ecosystems, human dignity, livelihoods, and well-being. Faith communities and spiritual traditions have long served as moral beacons and agents of transformation, inspiring billions worldwide through teachings that emphasize stewardship, responsibility, and compassion.

By harnessing the power of faith-based institutions, places of worship, spiritual traditions, and Indigenous knowledge, the Charter encourages a spiritual awakening that inspires individuals and communities to take meaningful action for the planet’s health.

The Charter is founded on core commitments that guide its vision and implementation:

  • Stewardship and Responsibility: Acknowledging the sacred duty of humanity to safeguard and nurture the Earth and all living beings.
  • Justice and Inclusion: Tackling environmental injustices, especially those that disproportionately impact vulnerable and marginalized communities.
  • Intergenerational and Gender Equity: Fostering inclusive spaces for diverse voices—including youth, women, and Indigenous leaders—to influence the future of Planetary Health.
  • Faith-Based Advocacy and Education: Empowering faith leaders and institutions with the resources to advance sustainability and climate action.
  • Community Collaboration: Fostering connections among faith groups, scientific communities, and policymakers to promote systemic change.
  • Lifestyle Transformation: Promoting sustainable living practices through mindful consumption, waste reduction, and ethical decision-making.

A Call to Renewal

The Sunway Charter is a manifesto for wholeness—committed to healing the Earth, restoring balance, and embracing our sacred responsibility. It calls on faith communities, leaders, and individuals to transition from awareness to action, honoring their spiritual teachings by safeguarding our shared home.

In this moment of crisis, we encounter an opportunity to reshape our relationship with the world, listen attentively to the wisdom of nature and tradition, and collaboratively create a future guided by wholeness and justice as our path toward Planetary Health.

Join the Movement

The Sunway Charter is supposed to be more than a document—it is to inspire a living movement.

We invite faith and spiritual leaders, communities, institutions, and individuals to sign the Charter, engage in Planetary Health initiatives, and act in their contexts.

Let us stand united in faith, hope, and action—for the well-being of our planet and future generations.

Together, we can create a world where spiritual wisdom, scientific knowledge, and collective action come together to restore the balance of our planet.

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