UN Partnership for UK’s Biggest Annual Youth Interfaith Summit 

The Faith and Belief Forum and LSE Faith Centre to partner with UNEP Faith for Earth Youth Council and The Cambridge Interfaith Programme to empower the next generation of faith leaders for Climate Action

See details for the series on our Events page

The Faith & Belief Forum (F&BF), in partnership with the LSE Faith Centre, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Youth Interfaith Summit Series 2024-25, a bold expansion of the youth-led interfaith summit, which will take place over a series of groundbreaking events from December 2024 culminating in the Youth Interfaith Summit at LSE on Wednesday 5^th February 2025.  

This year’s series builds on the annual summit to create a pathway of learning, skills development and connection to empower and amplify the voices of young people of faith in the climate conversation. F&BF has partnered with LSE Faith Centre over the past two years to run the Youth Interfaith Summit, which itself has been running for nearly a decade. This year, the pre-summit events will feature partnerships with national and international names including the United Nations Environment Programme, The Cambridge Interfaith Programme, and Faith for the Climate. 

This multi-event initiative highlights a powerful message: youth care deeply about the climate crisis and are ready to lead the charge for change. In a world where the climate movement often appears fragmented, F&BF and LSE Faith Centre are building on years of continued work to unite diverse voices in a call for impactful climate action grounded in the shared values of faith and belief. 

A Legacy of Climate-Focused Initiatives 

The Youth Interfaith Summit Series reflects the accumulated work of both F&BF and the LSE Faith Centre over past years, where climate action has been a central focus. In previous years, F&BF has developed initiatives like its Advanced Policy and Campaigning programme that resulted in young leaders delivering a Climate Migration policy briefing to sector leaders in parliament. Moreover, on a community level, F&BF’s annual awards regularly recognises initiatives striving to transform their areas in small ways to be more environmentally sustainable.  

Since opening in 2014, the LSE Faith Centre has focused much of its work on the intersections between religion and climate change. In recent years, they have; conducted international workshops on incorporating religious language into climate diplomacy, led a session at the UN Climate Conference in 2024, conducted a three-year research project into the critical intersections of religious pluralism with the climate, and they have taught an extracurricular module on climate as part of the Beecken Faith and Leadership programme for LSE students.  

“By investigating these complex intersections, we hope to raise awareness about the need to build a more robust understanding of religion within environmental diplomacy.”  – The LSE Faith Centre team 

The Largest Youth-Led Interfaith Gathering in the UK 

With over 200 attendees in 2023, the Youth Interfaith Summit is the UK’s largest annual youth-led interfaith gathering, and this year’s expanded series is expected to surpass that milestone. Each event will give attendees practical insights into climate issues, with interactive workshops and networking opportunities focused on creating potential for lasting change. Through four unique events with national and international leaders, participants will engage with topics like environmental justice, climate advocacy, and the role of faith in creating sustainable futures. 

A National and International Collaboration 

Central to this year’s summit series are significant partnerships with the United Nations Environment Programme, Faith for the Climate, and the Cambridge Interfaith Programme. These collaborations represent a critical step forward in empowering young leaders with the knowledge, connections, and skills they need to make tangible climate progress on both national and international scales. 

By joining forces with esteemed institutions across faith, academia, and global governance, F&BF and the LSE Faith Centre are establishing a robust platform that places youth at the forefront of climate and interfaith dialogue. 

Equipping Youth for Action-Oriented Climate Solutions 

The Youth Interfaith Summit Series is more than just a gathering—it is a call to action. Each workshop, from December’s Faith for the Climate event to January’s Cambridge-based “Cabinet in Crisis,” is structured to be practical and solution-oriented, empowering young leaders to actively engage with climate issues. This approach builds on the belief that faith can serve as a powerful catalyst for positive change, uniting diverse voices to address the climate crisis together. 

“With the Youth Interfaith Summit Series, we’re creating a unique space for young people to come together, find allies, and mobilise for real impact,” said Lauryn Duncan-Rouse, Programme Co-ordinator at F&BF. “At a time when the climate movement feels fragmented, this series brings the power of faith to the forefront, fostering discussion, collaboration, and—most importantly—action.” 

Upcoming Event Details: 

December 5th – Grassroots Climate Champions, 6-9 pm , London| Signup on Eventbrite 

 
Faith for the Climate’s Faiths for Climate Justice workshops give participants of different faiths an opportunity to learn about climate justice by working through real-life cases and problems together. Our approach is collaborative and welcoming of people at any level of experience or knowledge about the climate and nature crisis. By the end of the session, all learners should be able to grasp a basic framework of what climate justice means, how they can use this framework to analyse different issues or concerns they come across day-to-day, and apply their learnings to any actions they might want to take individually or in collaboration with others. 
 

9^th December – Faith in International Climate Policy with the United Nations Environment Programme , 5pm-6pm, Online | Register on Zoom 

This webinar will introduce people to how Faith has been included in international climate negotiations and ways for young people to be involved.   It will be at 5:00 – 6pm British time and be online, featuring Azmaira Alibhai, Faith and Ecosystems Coordinator at the UNEP Faith for Earth Youth Council. 

Events in the new year will be a unique workshop with academic and sector leaders in Cambridge followed by the Youth Interfaith Summit itself in early February. 

• January 2025: “Cabinet of Crisis” event with the Cambridge Interfaith Programme 
• 5^th February 2025: Youth Interfaith Summit 

Each event in the series promises to be a pivotal step in shaping a generation of young leaders who are ready to drive change and create a more sustainable future.