The moral call to act on climate change has grown and it is
resonating around the world. Morality is a powerful force that
transcends politics, race, ethnicity, gender and geography. Religions
are making a moral argument and faith groups around the world are calling for ambitious climate action. This morality is also inspiring them to divest their holdings from fossil fuels.
Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical is an important catalyst for religious activism in support of climate action. The science based encyclical highlights efforts to combat climate change as a moral duty and calls us to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy.
The Pope is not the only religious leader who is leading the charge, prior to the release of the encyclical the head of the Episcopal church called for climate action. Similar calls have come from Hindus, Buddhists and Jews. Recently, Islamic leaders called for an end to fossil fuels in a document called the Islamic Declaration on Climate Change.
As explained by Al Gore,
The issue of climate change “is now being resolved into a question of
right and wrong…Once questions are resolved into a choice between
right and wrong, then the laws change.”
Like civil rights, gay rights, gender equality and
apartheid, climate change is a matter of right and wrong. Unlike so many
issues in our world today, there is no middle road when it comes to
climate change. Just as you are either for or against racial equality,
we must choose whether we are for or against climate action.
Related
How Morality Can Win the War on Climate Change
Pope Francis on the Environment, Politics and Business (Address to Congress)
Why Republican’s Fear the Pope’s Environmental Message
Pope Deprives Republican Climate Deniers of Religious Support
Implications of Pope Francis’ Environmental Encyclical and Republican Attacks (Videos)
Pope Francis and the Convergence of Morality and Science: Relinquish Fossil Fuels and Embrace Renewables (Video)
Pope Francis and COP21
Pope Francis’ Moral Call to Environmental Action
Female Faith Leaders Say Climate Change is a Priority Issue
The Vatican’s Climate Conference Calls for a Moral Awakening that Includes Rejecting Fossil Fuels
Why Faith Communities are Divesting from Fossil Fuels
Video – How Religion can Energize Ecological Renewal
Why Christianity is Important to Action on Climate Change
