Factors that Underscore the Strength of Religious Organisations to Boost the Fight Against Climate Change

Abstract

Climate change or global warming is rapidly threatening human survival, which makes addressing climate change a moral issue. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautions that there are currently more frequent, deadly, and destructive climate-related natural disasters that are causing more human and financial losses. The UN Secretary-General has attributed this scenario to negative human behaviour and completely inadequate efforts by the international community to reverse the current trend of carbon emissions. Using largely secondary data, this study has explored factors that underscore the relevance or power of world religious organisations to influence public policy reforms and boost positive behaviour for a successful transition to carbon neutrality by 2050. These factors include (1) a high number of their followers; (2) ecological principles of the world religions; (3) galvanising power, penetrating and holistic analysis of events, (4) the ability to educate and create awareness on significant issues like the need to drastically cut carbon emission (i.e., climate change sensitive lifestyles or responsible consumption of natural resources), and (5) leverage the 4 factors mentioned above to mobilise financial resources to support activities(e.g., subsidies) toward carbon neutrality, especially in the poor developing countries; thereby influencing effective public policy reforms and political will toward climate change action. In conclusion, this study strongly calls for the active engagement of world religious organisations (as key stakeholders) to work seriously for a successful transition to carbon neutrality by 2050