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 11 other United 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.
learn about our ministries
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.
The Creation Care Network is an online community that helps members of The United Methodist Church and established ministry partners connect, share, and learn.
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.
Resources for local churches
- Energy Efficiency: Global Ministries supports local churches in increasing their energy efficiency through quarterly webinars and peer-to-peer support. Learn more by joining the Global Ministries Creation Care Network. For tools and resources that support your local church in wise energy stewardship, download the EnergyStar for Congregations Action Workbook.
- Earth Day: Global Ministries encourages congregations to observe Earth Day Sunday each April. View Earth Day resources.
become a GLOBAL MINISTRIES Earthkeeper
The next EarthKeepers training events will be held Oct. 5-8, 2023, in the following cities: Birmingham, AL; Denver, CO; Hartford, CT.
Attend the training closest to you to minimize travel emissions, while still engaging with others attending trainings being held in other locations. This strategy is designed to support Global Ministries commitment to just and equitable net-zero emissions.
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.
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.
29 new Global Ministries EarthKeepers will launch creation care projects.