Covenant Communities
Carbon Covenant is a program sponsored by Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) to empower faith communities in the US to combat climate change in the developing world. Other organizations partnering with IPL to promote Carbon Covenant are the Alliance of Religion and Conservation (ARC) based in the UK, GreenFaith, based in New Jersey, and United Religions Initiative, based in San Francisco, CA.

Right now in Africa, in Asia, and all over the developing world people’s lives, homes, and livelihoods are being threatened. Those who have contributed the least to global warming are the ones suffering the most.

There are currently four sponsored projects, all focused on reforestation or avoiding deforestation. Deforestation is the biggest contributor to global climate change in the developing world, and it is contributing to loss of species and erosion. The four projects are led by Buddhist monks in Cambodia, the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, the Presbyterian Church in Ghana, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.

How can I support Carbon Covenant as an individual?


Select from the four faith community programs. You can make a gift of any amount, and 100% will go to support the project you choose.

How were these four projects chosen?

These projects were initially submitted to the Alliance of Religion and Conservation in the UK. The projects themselves were developed by the faith communities based on their own priorities. They were chosen because of the faith organizations’ track records and the potential significant impact of the projects.

How can my congregation become a Covenant Community?


Faith communities who contribute or raise $10,000 or more for a given project are Covenant Communities. They are featured on the website and put in direct contact with a leader on the site of their chosen project, in order to facilitate cultural exchange and regular communication. The covenant community will also receive regular updates on the project’s progress, in order to keep their congregants engaged and informed. They also may organize volunteer work trips to their project.

Download the Carbon Covenant Flier (PDF) to take to your congregation.

How can I keep updated on the project’s progress?


The website will be updated from time to time with photos and notes from the field, and we will send out email updates to all donors several times a year.

How can IPL afford to send 100% of funds to the project, with no overhead costs?


IPL has received a grant to cover administration of the website and staff time. Therefore, individuals' contributions go directly to the projects.