Meet Gopal Patel, committed environmental advocate who is elevating the relevance and power of faith to help address the world’s challenges through his new initiative FutureFaith. Gopal previously founded the Hindu environmental organization, Bhumi Global, and has been mobilizing faith communities in support of climate and environmental goals for over fifteen years. Based in the New York metropolitan area (specifically, New Jersey), Gopal formerly served as co-chair of the United Nations Multi-faith Advisory Council and has served as advisor to numerous organizations as he works to bring faith voices to policy tables around the world.
What faith(s), if any, do you practice? How does your tradition and/or spiritual practice inspire or influence you as an innovator?
I come from the Hindu faith, specifically from the Vaishnava tradition. My faith teaches me that when it comes to faith and spirituality, there is no single solution for all people, nor is there one solution for all times. It teaches me that religious traditions need to innovate in order to meet the moment, to find ways to be relevant and accessible with changing times. It teaches me that what may have been relevant and necessary, may no longer be so.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently building my latest initiative, an international think-tank called FutureFaith, which will work to help international leaders and organisations harness the wisdom and experience of faith traditions to address global challenges. I'm also writing a book based on my TED talk: The unexpected way, spirituality connects to climate change. I also have another handful of projects I'm developing, but will probably never materialise!
What can we find you doing when you’re not working?
I enjoy keeping up with international affairs and politics, exploring new vegan restaurants in New York City, and watching the latest movies. Oh, and my Peloton bike!
What is piquing your curiosity these days?
With the world rapidly changing in a variety of ways, from technology, to geopolitics, to the challenges of extremism and polarisation, I'm interested to see how religious leaders and organisations are engaging with these issues.
What is something you’d like help on?
I'm keen to connect with others who work at the intersection of faith and international advocacy and policy related to sustainable development. I'm seeing a real need for innovation when it comes to that intersection, and would love to speak with anyone else who is itching to shake things up, in a healthy way :)
What is something you can offer others in the innoFaith network?
I'm happy to speak with anyone starting out in interfaith work to talk through their ideas, make connections, or offer advice.
You can find Gopal on LinkedIn.
Meet an innoFaither is our series to introduce the inspiring optimists in the innoFaith world and what they’re working on and thinking about. We hope it helps you find and engage with each other across the network to advance faith-rooted social innovation and interfaith collaboration for social impact. Or just meet some cool people. Find the full series at www.innofaith.org/meet-an-innofaither.
Photo credit TED / Gilberto Tadday / Jasmina Tomic