MEXICO: The Environmental Protection Agency will be spending $84,000 so churches may be studied to determine how they can help in fighting climate change.
Specifically, the agency will be funding a graduate fellowship at the University of Michigan that will be assessing 17 faith-based institutions that have their own initiatives for sustainability. In examining implemented projects, the research aims to be used in developing workshops that will teach religious leaders how they can instigate change in their congregations for the benefit of the environment.
To be carried out by Cybelle Tenaya Shattuck, with Brandon Jones participating as EPA project officer, the research aims to understand empirical experiences within faith-based communities regarding environmental efforts. It wants to explore motivations and processes as well as factors that get in the way of implementing green initiatives. Should some be successful, Shattuck will also be taking in what conditions facilitated implementation so that what works may also be applied in other projects.
To be included in the case study, congregations have to employ initiatives supporting sustainability, with multiple activities in place for that purpose and that the effort to do something for the environment has been present for at least four years. Individual case studies will also be developed for each of the 17 institutions using information gathered from historical documents, semistructured interviews and observations on-site. After the case studies are carried out, results will be compiled and compared, identifying common themes, significant characteristics and key similarities.
Pakistan to get $3b loan from Islamic Trade Financing Corporation
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