Uwe Brandes (PI) and project partner Alberto Pallecchi (Co-PI) of the World Resources Institute presented the Science-based Targets for Faith project at the COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  The project is a collaboration between the World Resources Institute and Georgetown University to establish a global standard to measure and report the emissions of real assets that are owned or controlled by global faith actors.  

Following an overview presentation of the Technical Guidance Document, Brandes and Pallecchi,  we were joined by pilot phase partners who have contributed data to the platform.  Prof. Gianluigi de Gennaro presented the Vatican’s approach to measuring the performance data of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, including the Scope 3 emissions associated with the upcoming global Jubilee.  Dr. Olivia J. Wilkinson from the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities, presented the newly collected performance data from the real estate portfolio of the Episcopal Church of the Philippines.

Limited structured data is available on the GHG performance of faith-owned assets. The project’s working assumption is that 6 million real assets are owned or controlled by faith actors, approximately 6 times the number of buildings in New York City, and land holdings that are equal to the size of the country of Mexico. The project estimates that well over 80% of the world’s people regularly use these buildings, and as such, they represent an extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate and advance humanity’s common sustainable future.  Given the mission of faith actors, many of these assets are located in communities at the frontline of climate adaptation.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been instrumental in advancing this project to this point, especially Alberto Pallecchi, the Porticus Foundation, and so many inspirational faith leaders such as Floyd Lawlet, National Development Officer and Provincial Secretary of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines; Rev. Dr. Matthew Calkins, Rector of Grace Church Millbrook, NY Episcopal Church; Susan Hendershot and so many others. I’d also like to thank my research colleagues at Georgetown, including Tom Banchoff, Chris Pyke, Meghan Chapple, and Peter Marra. This work would not have been possible without my outstanding research assistants, Madeline Samet and Megan Wright,” remarked Brandes.