It is estimated over 85% of the world’s population subscribes to some faith, a massive demographic that according to the United Nations Development Program has an environmental conscience.
Targeting religious groups has not been a key objective of environmental activists but as the celebration for nature and creation can be found in the vast majority of religious denominations, it would seem religion and climate change ago together like bread and wine.
The Alliance of Religions and Conservation and the United Nations Development Program are the helping the world’s religions to create five to nine year plans to address the issues of climate change with religious flavor.
Using the guidelines created by the two organizations religious groups, (including Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Daoist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Shinto and Sikh) they have been drafting strategies for sustainability. The initiative, named “Plans for Generational Change” will be launched at a celebration hosted by ARC and UNDP at Windsor Castle later in the year.
The fact that the majority of the world’s faiths ascribe to the creation of the world to an all-powerful deity implies that the leaders and followers of each faith have a moral responsibility for the continued well-being of our planet, and particularly for its natural environment,” said ARC founder Prince Phillip in a preface to the “Plans for Generational Change”.
Several religions have adapted the ARC’s guidelines to align with sacred time periods. Jewish climate activists designed their plan to coincide with the Jewish calender’s seven-year shmita cycle from 2008-2015.
In a similar vein, Sikhs dedicated their 300 year Cycle of Creation beginning in 1999 to nature.
Most of the action plans contain similar structural categories that were outlined in the guidelines. The categories such as faith's consistent use of assets, education and young people and media and advocacy have formed the foundations of the plans but have been adapted to suit religious practices and beliefs. The plans lay out specific and reachable objectives and also focus on commitments that can be translated into actions by individuals.
The Jewish Climate Change Campaign is proving to be in the forefront of the religious battle against climate change. The campaign aims to establish a “green team” working on sustainability in every Jewish temple and community organization by 2015. Their website, launched last month, is rapidly signing on followers that will increase further after the social campaign launches in the near future.
According to Jessica Haller, Director for the Jewish Climate Campaign, religion can circumvent the obstacles blocking international climate negotiations by attacking the problem from an entirely different angle.
“Religions cross boundaries, and we represent the same amount of people in the world as countries do. Religions don’t have to deal with issues of finances, of sovereignty, of who’s giving money to whom. We don’t deal with issues of intellectual property on technology, or anything else that’s slowing down negotiations in Copenhagen. We just deal with the fact this is a moral issue we have to address.”
The group, in coalition with Evangelican, Catholic, and Protestant groups, have launched another campaign, Day Six, urging people to pressure Congress into taking climate change seriously.
“Day Six urges you to support a climate bill that addresses the root causes of climate change and makes needed investments in vulnerable communities already experiencing its devastating effects.”
The Sikh’s are also becoming an active force in the “Plans for Generational Change” initiative. They have used the principles of the Qur’an to develop their Eco-Sikh plan which declares “our connection to the environment is an integral part of our identity as Sikhs.”
The authors of the Eco-Sikh plan write:
“Qur’an calls for the preservation of nature, the enjoyment of its beauty and the prevention of distortion of the earth. Islam not only asks humanity to take responsibility to protect and conserve the environment, it also invites mankind to respect, cherish and enjoy nature.”
The economic and moral influence of worldwide groups make them a force to be reckoned with that will undoubtedly compliment any governmental strategies to combat climate change. According to the ARC, religious groups own 5% of the world’s forests, are connected to more than half of all schools, own and manage most of the world’s tourist destinations and control over sever percent of financial investments.
Religion also has the wisdom, respect and trust that has come with age and are in a unique position to effect environmental change by galvanizing their followers into action. ARC secretary general Martin Palmer summarizes the future impact that religion will have on climate change.
“It is about drawing on your wisdom of the past two to three thousand years and asking whether, with the next seven to eight years, we can begin to make a real difference. A difference that will last for the next two or three thousand years. No other group but you can do this”.
This article was contributed to Celsias by Katherine I.
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