How the World’s Religions Are Responding to Climate Change
Edited by Robin Globus Veldman, Andrew Szasz, and Randolph Haluza- DeLay
Routledge, 2013
Reviewed by Ben Pasha
The issue of climate change has been a significant subject of alarm for many individuals. This has typically been a concern for those involved in the physical sciences. However, climate change has now grabbed the attention of different faith communities as well, due to the role ecological issues play in societal challenges like poverty and health care.
How the World’s Religions Are Responding to Climate Change includes reflections from Christian, Muslim, Indigenous, Buddhist, and Hindu perspectives. This is also the first book of its kind to establish “religion in climate change.” The book uses recent research to present an overview of what different faith groups are doing now and identifies avenues for research in the future.
For Canadians interested in what different faith communities are doing in the face of climate change, the most relevant chapter is the contribution by Mishka Lysack, a CPJ supporter who coedited Living Ecological Justice. Lysack looked at different faith groups in Canada which included eight Christian denominations as well as other religious traditions like the Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and Baha’i faiths. He then presents an overview of what has been accomplished to date and closes with solutions for what these faith groups have to do if they wish to better the environment.
Despite some of Lysack’s stark criticisms, his recommendations for improvement suggest optimism for the relationship between faith communities and the environment moving forward.
