E tū te mana o te ao: Building a Climate of Hope — Faith and Action Guide was launched at the Palmerston North City Library on 1 February 2026. This date was chosen because it marks the first day of World Interfaith Harmony Week, initiated by King Abdullah II of Jordan at the United Nations in 2010 to encourage people everywhere to foster a culture of peace and harmony regardless of faith tradition.
People engaged in climate action help create a culture of peace by bringing together people from every culture and nationality, transforming environmental challenges into opportunities for cooperation, collaboration, dialogue, and trust.
The forty‑plus people attending the launch of this first interfaith climate action resource reflected exactly what King Abdullah II had envisioned. The Palmerston North Interfaith Group hosted the event, with members from the Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh faith traditions all present to celebrate the launch.
Presentations were given by Mary Eastham, one of the authors of the guide, and Harminder Gill, newly appointed Trustee of the Religious Diversity Centre Aotearoa.
In her remarks, Mary Eastham emphasised the unique opportunity people of faith have to develop the collective will needed to respond to climate change as an existential crisis. She highlighted that the climate crisis is, first and foremost, a moral and spiritual crisis — and people of faith speak a moral and spiritual language. When we care for the Earth and oceans, we are also caring for people, especially the most vulnerable in society. Mary also spoke about engaging in the “triple As” of making a difference:
- Awareness of the relationship between science and faith
- Advocacy for those who have the most to lose from climate disruption
- Action, through all the ways people can help mitigate further environmental damage
This includes what can be done in households, sacred places, and local communities to build resilience.
Harminder Gill, of the Sikh faith, stated that the Faith and Action Guide reflects the very heart of what the Religious Diversity Centre stands for: respect across difference, moral courage, and collective responsibility for the world we share. Across faith traditions, there is a shared understanding that the Earth is not something we own, but something entrusted to us—a powerful moral foundation for action.
Jaspreet Singh, co‑chair of the Interfaith Group, warmly welcomed the multi‑ethnic, multi‑faith gathering and offered an interfaith prayer from his Sikh tradition. Alistaire Hall, also a co‑chair, gave a brief reflection on the importance of the resource on behalf of the Palmerston North Interfaith Group.
Bishop John Adams blessed the launch, thanking the authors from the RDC Climate Action Group for creating E tū te mana o te ao: Building a Climate of Hope – Faith and Action Guide, and challenging everyone present to live out its message of faith, action, and hope.
From l-r: Councillor Kaydee Zabelin, Jaspreet Singh, Deputy Mayor Debi Marshall-Lobb, Dr. Paul Blaschke, convener of the Climate Action Group and one of the authors of the Climate Action Guide, Dr. Mary Eastham, Trustee of the Religious Diversity Centre Aotearoa and one of the authors of the Climate Action Guide, Councillor Lorna Johnson. Photo: Mary Eastham.