As we know, religions affect our life everyday at every level. “Religions can therefore be understood as operating at multiple scales: individuals and collective; local, regional, and transnational.”(Veldman, 4) Religions help us shape our philosophy and behaviors. “For example, the worldview it provides could shape how the individual or group interprets changes in the weather, and the resources to watch it provides access could influence member’s ability to adapt.”(Veldman, 4)
So we believe religion could play a significant role in mitigation of the climate change. Veldman et al states 4 reasons of religion’s potential for helping to facilitate climate change in his book, social science, religions, and climate change; “first, religions may …show more content…
In economic market, religions have ability to do something to facilitate climate mitigation if they really want to do so. Climate change mitigation is a long- term topic. We need the next generation keep working on it, so the education should play an important role in this topic. “Finally, religions have the potential to provide connectivity that fosters the achievement of collective goals.”(Veldman, 5) For example, church maybe one of the most common social associations around the world, which can reach a lot of people. So church can get the fist hand information about the disaster and provide help at the first time. “ Such fostering of trust and strengthening of social ties positions religious association as potentially effective agents in response to climate change.”(Veldman, …show more content…
Veldman et al says in his book “social science, religious, and climate change”, there exits many substantial obstacles stand in the way of religion play an important role in the global response to climate change.“In a study on environmental education in North American churches, Hauza-Selay (2008) identifies four classes of barriers to environmental engagement that apply equally to climate change.”(Veldman, 6)First, “Paradigmatic barriers, which are theological beliefs, or worldviews that disable environmental concern.”(Veldman, 6) In some religions, leaders may encourage people to think people cannot influence the climate change. God or nature controls the climate. Second, “Barriers of applicability, which include debate about the appropriate level of attention to give environmental concerns-or whether to give them attention at all.”(Veldman, 6) Many religions are working on helping people in hunger or in poverty. Religions may think there are so many people are dying because of poverty, They do not have extra time or energy to focus on the climate problems which is an unsolved problem.Third, “lack of social critique can be a barrier as well… Lack of social critique is sometimes coupled with an overemphasis on individual or moralistic solutions.”(Veldman, 6)“Finally, there can be lack of conviction, because of attachment to one’s current lifestyle, or lack of knowledge.”(Veldman,6) It is hard for