The global greening of religion

Jonathan Chaplin

It is increasingly acknowledged that our escalating global environmental challenges cannot be adequately responded to by governmental bodies without a substantial upsurge of popular support for the far-reaching policy shifts widely seen as necessary. The search is thus on for the societal, cultural and moral energies that might inspire the large-scale consciousness-raising and mobilization required for such an upsurge. More recently, there has also been a growing recognition that, in a world where four-fifths of the population adheres to some form of spiritual tradition, religion may be one of those necessary sources. This article begins by identifying the remarkable upsurge of religiously inspired ecological concern over the last 30 years, noting that it has come to expression with special force in robust declarations on, and attempts to mobilize believers over, the issue of climate change. It then summarizes this phenomenon in terms of seven core commitments and concludes by reflecting briefly on its potential future influence.