Religion and extractive industries: ethics, practice, and engagement

Abstract

Contemporary debates about extractive industries have global dimensions, centered in concerns about social justice, human flourishing, and care for the environment. These concerns also take place in intensely local settings. Religious actors play roles by engaging with local communities, global mining companies, economic thinkers, and development strategists, through dialogue and ideas and activism. This chapter explores evolving debates on extractive industry approaches and relevant policies, global and national, from the perspective of a range of religious actors who may speak from a specific tradition or community, or in an interfaith or intra-faith context. It situates various forms of involvement of religious actors, including the Catholic Church and interreligious and intra-faith bodies, within the broader, evolving policy debates about the roles of extractive industries in development strategies. Its focus is primarily on global forums, referring to country experiences to illustrate religious actor engagement. Driving questions include: How are concerns translated into action? Where has the impact of religious advocacy and action been most effective? And what are likely and productive avenues for the future?