Climate Politics and the Power of Religion

Religion influences how people think about and respond to climate change, with case studies from across the globe showing how different communities render climate change within their moral vocabularies and how such moral claims find purchase in activism and public debates.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 298 pages
Publication date: 17 May 2022
Publisher: Indiana University Press

Climate Politics and the Power of Religion is an edited collection that explores the diverse ways that religion shapes climate politics at the local, national, and international levels. Drawing on case studies from across the globe, it stands at the intersection of religious studies, environment policy, and global politics. From small island nations confronting sea-level rise and intensifying tropical storms to high-elevation communities in the Andes and Himalayas wrestling with accelerating glacial melt, there is tremendous variation in the ways that societies draw on religion to understand and contend with climate change.

Climate Politics and the Power of Religion offers 10 timely case studies that demonstrate how different communities render climate change within their own moral vocabularies and how such moral claims find purchase in activism and public debates about climate policy. Whether it be Hindutva policymakers in India, curanderos in Peru, or working-class people's concerns about the transgressions of petroleum extraction in Trinidad—religion affects how they all are making sense of and responding to this escalating global catastrophe.

The book also explores the ways in which religious institutions and organizations are responding to the challenges posed by climate change, including through advocacy, education, and collaboration with other stakeholders. It highlights the importance of recognizing the role of religion in shaping climate politics and the need for policymakers and activists to engage with religious communities in order to build more inclusive and effective responses to climate change.

In conclusion, Climate Politics and the Power of Religion provides a valuable contribution to the growing field of research on climate politics and religion. By exploring the diverse ways in which religion shapes climate politics, the book offers insights into the complex relationships between religion, politics, and the environment. It highlights the need for policymakers and activists to engage with religious communities in order to build more inclusive and effective responses to climate change.

Weight: 458g
Dimension: 228 x 153 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253059062