"We are losing our attitude of wonder, of contemplation, of listening to creation and thus we no longer manage to interpret within it what Benedict XVI calls 'the rhythm of the love-story between God and man.'"
+ Pope Francis
National Interfaith Power & Light Suspends Operations

In a statement released last week, USA-based Interfaith Power & Light told its members that it was closing shop due to financial reasons. The full statement follows, but stay tuned for analysis here at Catholic Ecology.
Statement from Interfaith Power & Light — a national organization that works in all 50 states and U.S. territories to inspire and mobilize people of faith and conscience to take bold and just action on climate change – on the decision to suspend national operations, and look to network of Interfaith Power & Light state and regional affiliates to continue to lead and advance mission:
After much careful deliberation, the board of Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) National has made the difficult decision to suspend its central office’s operations, effective January 17, 2025. To be clear, the work of the state affiliates, each its own independent entity, continues unabated, and it is from these groups that much of the IPL network’s prodigious output has come over the years, and will continue to emerge.
Despite the unwavering passion and commitment of our staff, partners, and supporters, the national NGO, that offered logistical and other support to the network of IPL affiliates, faced financial challenges that it was unable to overcome – even as the impact of the network as a whole came to be ever more centered in the affiliates.
Still, IPL national’s efforts have been transformative: mobilizing advocates to facilitate the passage of historic climate legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act; supporting and funding sustainability projects at houses of worship across the country, and highlighting exemplars as Cool Congregations; educating and engaging hundreds of thousands of people of faith through programs like Faith Climate Action Week; faithfully testifying before agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency to pass groundbreaking rules for climate progress; and much more. These efforts have made a deep impact within and beyond the IPL network, with many of them on their way to being re-visited and re-housed elsewhere.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the dedicated staff at the national office, a few of whom have worked for Interfaith Power & Light for decades, who have poured their hearts into advancing the work of caring for our Sacred Earth. We celebrate their many accomplishments – and alongside the affiliate network, we are now discerning how these initiatives might take new shape in the emerging collaborative future we’re building together.
We also want to thank our passionate network of supporters across the country, people of all faiths and traditions, who have supported and joined our work of creating a more just and sustainable future for all. That work continues unabated, ably led by the affiliates themselves, through its Network Steering Committee.
IPL state and regional affiliates across the country have been, and continue to, mobilize people of faith and conscience into action. IPL affiliates are independent 501c3 organizations, committed to working locally to advance climate justice and build sustainable communities – and they do so in connection and collaboration with one another, as well as with treasured partners across the faith and environmental landscape. We encourage all our supporters, donors, funders, and partners who have supported the national IPL network to find and connect with, or to redouble your support for, your local affiliate, as they continue to lead on climate action in your community.
We remain hopeful that the foundation we have built together – the relationships, the advocacy, the programs, and the momentum we have generated – will continue to serve as a catalyst for progress. Our faith traditions and spiritual practices call us together in the shared belief that we must care for this planet and for those most impacted by the climate crisis. The work continues on across this network and within each of us.
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