Climate Change and Religions: The Importance of Religion in Climate Change
GEOG 1003:
Contemporary Global Environmental Issues
Climate Change and Religions:
The Importance of Religion in Climate Change
Yeung Chung Yiu, The University of Hong Kong
ABSTRACT
Despite our deep scientific understanding in climate change, little is known about the relationship between religion and climate change. This paper argues that religion plays a critical role in climate change, by both the worldviews and values portrayed and emphasized by religions, and the reach and influence of modern religious groups on the society. The analysis is based on a wide range of materials consulted, including the book “Religion in Environmental and Climate Change” written by 15 professors and scholars. The analysis indicates significant religious influence on climate change and the environment, in both ancient and modern times. The importance of religion in climate change implied the importance for politicians and environmentalists to focus more on the cultural dimension of climate change, such as human-nature relationship, apart from emphasizing the scientific findings on the urgency of the need for immediate actions to fight against climate change and global warming.
INTRODUCTION Facing so many environmental issues in the current decade, including global warming, heavy pollution and energy crisis, scientists have done tens of thousands of researches into them, providing countless scientific evidences to convince people that these issues are real, and we must react immediately to alleviate the situation. According to IPCC Synthesis Report in 2012, 70 percent of Americans believe global warming is real (Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies). However, global temperature is still on an alarming rising trend. As a result, it is my belief that scientific evidence standalone would not be enough to alter people’s behaviors significantly. In mitigating the current environmental issues, global and national conferences are often held to discuss how we
Contemporary Global Environmental Issues
Climate Change and Religions:
The Importance of Religion in Climate Change
Yeung Chung Yiu, The University of Hong Kong
ABSTRACT
Despite our deep scientific understanding in climate change, little is known about the relationship between religion and climate change. This paper argues that religion plays a critical role in climate change, by both the worldviews and values portrayed and emphasized by religions, and the reach and influence of modern religious groups on the society. The analysis is based on a wide range of materials consulted, including the book “Religion in Environmental and Climate Change” written by 15 professors and scholars. The analysis indicates significant religious influence on climate change and the environment, in both ancient and modern times. The importance of religion in climate change implied the importance for politicians and environmentalists to focus more on the cultural dimension of climate change, such as human-nature relationship, apart from emphasizing the scientific findings on the urgency of the need for immediate actions to fight against climate change and global warming.
INTRODUCTION Facing so many environmental issues in the current decade, including global warming, heavy pollution and energy crisis, scientists have done tens of thousands of researches into them, providing countless scientific evidences to convince people that these issues are real, and we must react immediately to alleviate the situation. According to IPCC Synthesis Report in 2012, 70 percent of Americans believe global warming is real (Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies). However, global temperature is still on an alarming rising trend. As a result, it is my belief that scientific evidence standalone would not be enough to alter people’s behaviors significantly. In mitigating the current environmental issues, global and national conferences are often held to discuss how we
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