Formed in 1986, the Center for Respect of Life and Environment (CRLE) is a nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C., that works to promote humane and environmental ethics, particularly within the academic and religious communities with an emphasis on the links between ecology, spirituality, and sustainability.

CRLE describes itself as being committed to "encourage the well-being of life and living systems—plant, animal, and human relationships..." The work of the Center is "to awaken the public's ecological sensibilities, and to transform lifestyles, institutional practices, and social policies to support the community of life..." In order to accomplish these goals, CRLE sponsors conferences of professionals and experts in various fields and puts out a variety of publications, including a quarterly journal, Earth Ethics.

Through workshops and conferences, CRLE's Higher Education Project brings together educators from various institutions...