Which religions are supporting climate change? Muslims are the most recent to speak up

By Gary Nguyen --
22 Aug 2015 --

LeahLikesLemons is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Religions across the world are announcing their views on climate change. The Muslims are the latest to declare their stance at the International Islamic Climate Change Symposium.

“Human activity is putting such a strain on the natural functions of the earth that the ability of the planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted.” This is an excerpt from the joint declaration issued at the end of the International Islamic Climate Change Symposium which was held in Istanbul on Tuesday, August 18. Many renowned Islamic scholars and muftis from countries like Turkey, Lebanon and Morocco supported the Islamic declaration on climate change and ask Muslims all over the world to address this core issue being faced by planet earth. They stress upon the use of renewable energy and controlled industrial growth to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.

The relationship between individuals and the earth is progressively convoluted and critical. Consistently there are stories about contamination, an earth extensive temperature boost and endangered species confronting eradication. Many other religions in addition to Islam are talking about climate change and their religious leaders are spreading the message in accordance with the teachings of their particular religion.

Pope Francis’ Statement

Pope Francis, the current pope of the Catholic Church, tweeted on June 18, 2015 “Climate change represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. Developed countries ought to help pay this debt by limiting their consumption of nonrenewable energy.” In the papal encyclical he addressed policymakers and suggested different measures like “substituting for fossil fuels and developing sources of renewable energy” to reduce emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Rabbis Joined Hands with Pope on Climate Change Issue

In order to support the church's stance on climate change, seven Rabbis wrote a letter “Rabbinic Letter on the Climate Crisis” which was signed by almost 350 Rabbis. In their letter they requested “spiritual leadership of the Jewish people to speak to the Jewish people as a whole and to the world on this deep crisis in the history of the human species and of many other life-forms on our planet.” In their letter they supported their words by providing a reference from Torah, Leviticus 25-26 and Deuteronomy 15 which say “Shabbat Shabbaton- a Year of restful Release for the Earth and its workers from being made to work, and of Release for debtors from their debts.” They suggested some coal energy alternatives like wind and solar energy to aid in reduction of pollution on the planet.

Buddhist Stance on Climate Change

The “time to act is now” was a declaration issued by Buddhists on May 14, 2015. In that declaration they proclaim present climate changes and global warming are the consequences of our own deeds and negligence. To support their declaration they have provided some alarming examples, such as rapid melting of ice in the Arctic Ocean and on Asian glaciers. They have demanded some individual actions like the use of more fuel-efficient vehicles, switching off electric appliances when not in use and taking advantage of high efficiency light bulbs and appliances.