environmental sustainability
The Environmental Sustainability program leads sustainability initiatives within Global Ministries, in collaboration with other United Methodist agencies and in support of churches and ministries throughout The United Methodist Church.
Global Ministries, along with 10 other United Methodist agencies, plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 across ministries, facilities, operations and investments and to leverage the gifts of our connection, putting equity and justice at the center as we build a net-zero emission economy by 2050.
EarthKeepers training equips United Methodists in the United States to launch bold, antiracist, environmental projects in their communities. Projects include community gardens, energy initiatives, food security projects, reforestation efforts and more.
Resources for local churches
- Global Ministries Creation Care Network
- The Global Ministries Creation Care Network is an online community center for United Methodists interested in creation care ministries to network, gather resources, share ideas and promote events. Join today!
- Energy Efficiency
- Global Ministries supports local churches in increasing their energy efficiency through quarterly webinars, peer-to-peer support on the Global Ministries Creation Care Network, and partnership with the EnergyStar for Congregations program. Download the EnergyStar for Congregations Action Workbook.
- Earth Day
Renewable energy
Global Ministries has installed solar arrays at hospitals, a migration center on the U.S.-Mexico border and a theological school, and has provided women’s enterprises, refugee communities and hurricane survivors with renewable energy equipment. The agency is exploring strategies to increase use of renewable energy in disaster response and health care.
read stories of impact
Global Ministries EarthKeepers’ projects in 2022 include plans to increase environmentally sustainable energy projects, decrease waste and plastics, repopulate trees in urban areas, improve access to environmental resources, preserve island habitats, grow gardens in many settings and offer spiritual growth opportunities that integrate the need for human rest and restoration with the environment’s need for care and thoughtful preservation.
As the world celebrates Earth Day, participants in the most recent Global Ministries EarthKeepers training consider ways to conserve and protect the Atlantic Ocean’s barrier islands.
Conference Disaster Response teams from the Florida and North Carolina annual conferences explore the benefits of mobile solar-powered generators while responding in real time to power needs in Florida after Hurricane Ian.