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Affiliations and Partnerships
A Rocha works in partnership with scientific and faith-based bodies
A Rocha works in partnership and collaboration at a local, national and international level, with scientific bodies, higher education institutions, local government initiatives, faith-based organisations and churches. These are some examples:
Convention on Biological Diversity
Signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is dedicated to promoting sustainable development. Conceived as a practical tool for translating the principles of Agenda 21 into reality, the Convention recognizes that biological diversity is about more than plants, animals and micro organisms and their ecosystems – it is about people and our need for food security, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean and healthy environment in which to live. A Rocha scientists and researchers are informed by the ongoing work of the CBD. A Rocha’s Executive Director Simon Stuart has an advisory role for many global initiatives, including the CBD.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
A Rocha has been a member of The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2002. IUCN is the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network. It is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
Faith communities are key actors in the effort to place people and planet on a safer, more equitable and sustainable path. A Rocha International was part of the steering committee for IUCN’s Spirituality and Conservation Journey at the 2016 World Conservation Congress. Our Executive Director, Simon Stuart, is former Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, a central figure of IUCN’s species conservation work for over three decades, and recipient of the prestigious Blue Planet Prize for his work on the Red List of Threatened Species.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress is held every four years to decide the global conservation agenda. A Rocha has a unique contribution to make through some of our senior team members. Attending the Congress enables us to take part in the world’s largest environmental decision-making forum, showcase our work at the exhibition, share our latest conservation work at the Forum sessions, learn from technical and scientific experts, network and explore and build partnerships and engage with Christians in other conservation agencies.
A Rocha Founder Peter Harris speaking at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, Hawai’i in 2016
Lausanne / WEA Creation Care Network
The Lausanne / WEA Creation Care Network helps the world’s 600+ million evangelicals understand God’s Word (the Bible on creation care), God’s World (environmental realities in each context) and God’s Work (practical responses at the national and local level). It began, following the 2010 Lausanne Cape Town Commitment which states “creation care is a gospel issue within the Lordship of Jesus Christ”, and A Rocha has been involved from the start. Dave Bookless, Director of Theology for A Rocha International, also serves as a Lausanne Global Catalyst for Creation Care and says, “through the regional creation care conferences, it’s been wonderful to see the Lausanne creation care initiative building into a truly global movement with over 100 countries actively engaged. The opportunity to learn from Christians in Asia, Africa and South America, speaking about creation care from their own cultural contexts, is particularly valuable.” There is a regular e-newsletter, The Pollinator, to which A Rocha contributes.
Renew Our World
Renew Our World is a global movement of Christians taking action and praying for justice and creation care across the world. Through a combination of national campaigns and global moments, it brings together a wide variety of organisations, including A Rocha at both global and some national levels. Renew Our World has been focusing on climate change, plastic waste and restorative economies, and has also supported A Rocha Ghana’s Atewa campaign.
Season of Creation
The Season of Creation is celebrated each year by Christians of all denominations and across six continents. It is an annual celebration of prayer and action to protect the environment, organized in partnership with Act Alliance, Anglican Communion Environmental Network, A Rocha International, Christian Aid, Global Catholic Climate Movement, Lausanne/World Evangelical Alliance Creation Care Network, Lutheran World Federation and World Council of Churches.
UN Global Climate Conference COP26
A Rocha has been actively involved in preparing churches to engage with and pray for prepartions for COP26, including taking part in planning a worldwide relay event ‘Get to Glasgow’. In the UK churches have been invited to run a Climate Sunday, to add their voice to the common call for the UK government to take much bolder action on climate change in this country in advance of COP26, and to strengthen its credibility to lead the international community to adopt a step change in action, including a national Climate Sunday event to share church commitments and pray for bold action and courageous leadership at COP26. Climate Sunday has been organised by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) with support from charities including CAFOD, Christian Aid, Tearfund, A Rocha UK, and Operation Noah.
The A Rocha Worldwide Family has created a position paper on Nature Based Solutions to climate change.
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We would love to keep you updated by email with new videos and inspiring stories from around the world, as well as opportunities to get involved and make a difference.