Religion, Climate Change and the New Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

Hans Geir Aasmundsen
UiB Global

Religious responses to Climate Change (CC) are multiple and contextual. Scholars in the rapidly expanding field of religion and CC assert that religious responses typically fall into one of three categories. On such response has been indifference, in which practitioners do not engage with charges made against their traditions [e.g. Tomalin 2009].  second response has been apologetic, in which claims are made that a proper understanding of a particular religious tradition shows it beneficence for the climate [e.g. Santmire 1986]. The third response has been action-oriented, in which the climate shortcomings of religiou tradition are acknowledged in combination with efforts to institute climate-friendly reforms [e.g. Kearns 1996; Gardner 2006].

In this seminar, Aasmundsen will provide a brief history of the Religion and CC field before discussing in more detail how various religious strands today face the challenges of Climate Change.