Abstract
Climate change, primarily driven by carbon emissions from humans burning fossil fuels, presents a grave threat to various forms of life on the planet. Current scientific evidence strongly suggests that we have only until 2030 to solve the problem of climate change; however, socio-political reactions to the reality of climate change remain flawed. This paper considers the climate crisis an ethico-moral issue and invokes the role of religion on two main counts: First, as the climate crisis is primarily anthropogenic in nature, the institution of religion can help shape pro-environmental attitudes by changing our relationship with nature and promoting an eco-centric view through its moral imperatives or ethical values. Second, religious communities, in many countries of the world, wield enormous institutional, economic, and political power. These religious groups can influence policy decisions, in favor of eco-friendly measures, at all tiers of their governments. This study argues that developing a pragmatic approach to the climate crisis requires a new environmental paradigm. Relying on evidence from different countries, I show how a humanistic-ecological model, involving the collaboration of religious communities, can help in bringing about dramatic changes to the current relationship between humans and nature.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Religion, Environment, Climate, Ethical, Attitudes, Anthropogenic, Ecological, Policy, Moral
