Roles of religion and ethics in addressing climate change

After a brief introduction summarizing current climate change knowledge and potential responses, climate ethics are discussed within an historical context and a preliminary timeline of climate ethics is set forth. The paper argues as its central thesis that religion has major roles to play in enabling the world’s societies and individuals to take the actions necessary to address climate change causes, impacts, and related issues in an effective and ethical manner. The pivotal roles of religion in issues of climate change and environmental justice hinge primarily on religions’ functions in society, ethical teachings, reach and influence, and ability to inspire adherents to action. Religions’ ability to inspire action is evaluated empirically against data from 2 compilations of religious activity on climate change. The analysis indicates significant religiously based involvement and influence on ethical aspects of climate change and point to much greater potential for the role of religion in future solutions to the climate crisis.(Summary extracted from the article)