JOINING THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FORUM
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Interested in the application of spiritual principles to the environment and sustainability?
Follow or join the International Environment Forum (IEF)
The International Environment Forum (IEF) is a Bahá'í-inspired professional organization of scientists and engineers, managers, civil servants and representatives of civil society in fields relevant to the environment and sustainability, as well as students and others with an interest in these fields.
The IEF provides a forum for its members and associates to, among other things:
- deepen their understanding of the relevance of the social and ethical principles in the Bahá'í Writings for the environment and sustainable development challenges the world is facing;
- explore the application of those principles in their work and activities;
- share knowledge and experience, and accompany others in their professional development.
We also seek to share our views in public discourse and interact with other organizations in various international fora. The IEF was, for example, accredited to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 2002) as a scientific and technological organization, and again to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 in Rio de Janeiro, 2012), the 2022 Stockholm+50 International Meeting, and other relevant UN events.
The IEF was launched in October 1997 and today we have about 700 members and associates in 92 countries on all 5 continents. Our annual international conferences have until now been organized in Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and USA, and each conference now has an electronic version for those who cannot attend in person.
Directory of Members
accessible to members only
JOINING IN THE ACTIVITIES OF
THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FORUM
ACCESS TO IEF RESOURCES
For those simply interested in learning more about the environment and sustainability, all the results of IEF activities are made available on the IEF website. Everyone has access to all IEF resources; no further action is necessary.
SUBSCRIPTION TO THE IEF NEWSLETTER LEAVES
If you would like to receive a free Subscription to announcements of the monthly IEF e-newsletter LEAVES, please create a user file on this website. Click on “create new account” in the right column. Only provide your first and last name, your country, and your email address, and check mark “I wish to subscribe to the IEF newsletter.”
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES
As a Bahá'í-inspired professional organization, membership in the IEF is open to those who carry out environment or sustainable development activities, or who have a special interest in these areas, and who are also familiar with the ethical and social principles in the Bahá'í Writings, who want to deepen their appreciation and understanding of the guidance enshrined in those Writings, and who commit to exploring the ways and means of implementing these principles in the practice of such activities.
IEF members generate and promote a discourse on how the Bahá'í teachings can be applied to the environmental challenges facing the world; encourage or participate in projects and initiatives in accord with those principles, in collaboration with organizations and individuals who are active in areas of environment and sustainable development, while being sensitive to the capacity of projects to receive such help; advise governments, non-governmental organizations, businesses and communities in promoting the sustainable use of resources and protecting the environment; promote a greater awareness of environmental issues, and stimulate environmental education amongst children, youth and adults, so that they can contribute more effectively to practical actions; increase awareness within communities of the need for sustainable and environmentally sound development; support networking among individuals and groups at the local, national, regional and international levels on issues of environment and sustainable development; and encourage and advise young people who plan to study or work in the fields of environment or sustainable development in the spirit of the Bahá'í teachings.
Applications to become a Member or an Associate of IEF will be submitted to the Governing Board, which will decide if the above conditions are met. The Board's decisions to accept or reject the application need not be justified. Members and Associates accept to abide by the IEF Statutes, By-laws and the decisions of the Governing Board.
There are two categories: Members and Associates.
MEMBERS
A Member will receive all the materials of the Forum, the newsletter, and announcements of all activities, may participate in the annual General Assembly, conferences and discussions, virtually or in person, and is entitled to a single ballot whenever elections take place as provided for in the Statutes and By-laws. A member is eligible to be elected to the Governing Board. Member information without contact information and address is included in the Forum's Directory of Members accessible to members only on the IEF website. If you would like to apply for membership, please click on “Create a new account” in the right column of this website, and check the box for Member. Then, please provide information about yourself including your interests and experience in environment and sustainable development, and ability to volunteer or provide advice to others in the environment field. The Governing Board may accept applicants as Associates until they demonstrate their direct involvement in some IEF activities.
ASSOCIATES
Associates have the same privileges as members, except that they do not take part in the election of the IEF Board. They may attend the General Assembly as an observer, without the right to vote or be voted for. The IEF keeps an internal list of associates which is not shared with others. If you would like to become an associate, create a new Account in the User Login section of the right-hand bar on this web site, and check the box for Associate. The Governing Board may accept Associates as Members after they demonstrate their direct involvement in some IEF activities.
As a virtual organization, IEF does not collect dues or fees. To function without cost we use volunteers and the Internet, including this web site. Members and associates are encouraged to contribute to the web site on topics relevant to the environment and sustainability and related spiritual principles that are the core purpose of IEF. The IEF reserves the right to edit or delete irrelevant or inappropriate material. While we are a professional association, current employment status is not relevant to membership.
The IEF does not provide membership certificates and cannot assist its members financially with attendance at its conferences, nor can it provide letters of invitation or assistance in obtaining visas.
If you have any questions, contact the IEF Secretariat at:
International Environment Forum
12 B Chemin de Maisonneuve
CH-1219 Châtelaine, Geneva
Switzerland
Email: (goes to the General Secretary)
Last updated 26 December 2023