Sarah French is an Independent Senior Advisor specializing in Biodiversity Conservation and Education. With extensive experience in both conservation and international development, she has dedicated ...
IUCN CEESP Religion, Spirituality, Conservation and Climate Justice Specialist Group

Vue d'ensemble et description
Description:
The IUCN CEESP Religion, Spirituality, Environmental Conservation and Climate Justice (RESPECC) Specialist Group focuses on outreach to faith-based institutions, movements and networks, as well as ...
Leadership de groupe
Ms Sarah FRENCH
Sarah French is an Independent Senior Advisor specializing in Biodiversity Conservation and Education. With extensive experience in both conservation and international development, she has dedicated her career to advancing the intersection of conservation biodiversity, education, policy, and sustainable development. Sarah has worked as a lecturer, consultant, advocate and policy expert in areas including biodiversity and business, strategic programme management, alternative livelihoods, climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental education, and conservation policy.
Sarah has carried out consultancies for a range of international organizations, including DFID, DGEF, FAO, GAIN, GAVI, GIZ, the governments of Costa Rica and the Netherlands, ICTSD, ILO, IUCN, PROFOR, PROFOREST, the Stockholm Convention, UNDP, UNEP BTI, and WWF International. She has worked across multiple sectors, such as trade, education, conservation, ecotourism, forestry, and agriculture, collaborating with public, private, and not-for-profit entities worldwide. Her experience spans practice and policy at the local, regional, and international levels.
Her career has also seen her serve in senior leadership roles, including as Director of Environmental Education and Conservation Policy at A Rocha International. In this capacity, she led the strategic management and growth of environmental education programs, while advocating for policies promoting environmental sensitivity, ethical responsibilities, and sustainable livelihoods.
Sarah was also the head of delegation at international forums such as the IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC), the COPs of the UNCBD, and the UNFCCC. Prior to this, she served as Director of International Operations at A Rocha International, overseeing the organization's strategic programme management, global growth and development.
Sarah is an active member of several IUCN Commissions, including CEC, CEM, and CEESP. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the CEESP Specialist Group ReSpECC (Religions, Spirituality, Environmental Conservation, and Climate Justice), where she works to promote the role of faith and spirituality in environmental conservation and climate justice.
In academia, Sarah has lectured on International Development, Environment, and Geography at UK universities, including Anglia Ruskin University, the University of Chester, and the Centre of International Development and Training at Wolverhampton University.
With a life-long commitment to the natural environment, Sarah has lived in Latin America and several European countries and has worked extensively across Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe.
Currently based in Geneva, Switzerland, Sarah is also a passionate advocate for social justice and environmental sustainability, reflecting her Christian faith through her professional and personal commitments. She is dedicated to connecting people with nature, ensuring that both the natural world and vulnerable communities are supported in the face of global challenges.
Mr SHANTANU MANDAL
Shantanu Mandal is a graduate in Fashion Design from the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology in Kolkata, India and also holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. He is passionate about values and how they can be lived and applied in the fields of education, well-being, youth and the environment. In 2019, Shantanu was one of seven youths to be funded by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to attend COP 25 in Madrid. Since then he has been representing the Brahma Kumaris Youth at a number of high profile environmental conferences. For more than 10 years he lived in Mt.Abu in the Brahma Kumaris HQ at Mt.Abu now he is supporting in the International coordinating office of the Brahma Kumaris in London.
Shantanu Mandal is a graduate in Fashion Design from the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology in Kolkata, India and also holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. He is passionate about ...
Housed within the CEESP Theme on Culture, Spirituality and Conservation, ReSpECC’s mandate is to assist with the implementation of Resolution 009/12 of the World Conservation Congress, creating dialogue and cooperation between spiritual and faith-based organisations and networks in the fulfillment of IUCN’s mission.
The ethos of ReSpECC is to promote inter-religious cooperation and understanding, intercultural cooperation and caring for our planet. Religion and spirituality are understood to include main stream religions, spiritual traditions including indigenous and local belief systems, and modern non-religious spiritualism.
As the planet enters into difficult and in some cases irreversible climate and environmental changes, Faith-based organisations and networks are taking much of the strain in providing relief services. Churches, mosques and temples provide physical assistance during droughts and floods, and they also help communities and survivors with the emotional and spiritual shocks.
With the release of the Papal Encyclical in 2015, the world's religious leadership, faith-based organisations and networks globally have taken up the challenge of speaking out and engaging with issues of climate justice and the conservation of the environment. This is seen as intimately tied to justice within humanity, ending the degradation of poverty, as well as caring for a world which has sustained us.
In 2012, the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Jeju, Korea, approved Resolution 009 calling on the Union to work closely with Faith-based organisations and networks to acheive its mission. Venerable Do Beop sunim, a distinguished Korean Buddhist monk, lambasted delegates for making compromises with the world's environment and sustainability, as well as praised and honoured everyone in the IUCN for having committed their lives to the well-being of the planet and all who call this home.
In 2015, CEESP has created a dedicated Specialist Group to work with the major religions of the world as well as diverse spiritual traditions, from those nurtured by indigenous peoples to new generation systems that draw on psychology and eco-theology to improve life.
Major international networks including the World Council of Churches have been working on environmental and climate justice issues for decades. Religions for Peace, a major global network for inter-religious peace building adopted a commitment to help with climate conflict related issues in 2013. New networks including the Asian Inter-religious Climate and Ecology Network and the African We Have Faith - Act Now for Climate Justice are coalescing as the crises become deeper and more evident in the South.
The Specialist Group (SG) is known by its acronym ReSpECC. It has been engaged in coordination of Faith-based organisations working within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and initiated a parallel process with the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
Here, you will:
- keep up to date with latest developments related to religions, spirituality, environment and climate change issues
- share your work, your ideas and your energy
- form new friendships and partnerships for an action based on our shared values
- help IUCN to reimagine conservation - what it means and how it is done
- be constantly inspired!
Join us in bringing compassionate energy to conservation!