Chapter 2. Spirituality and Climate Change

The warming of our planet threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, and undermines the integrity of the natural world we all depend on (1). For people of faith and conscience, this crisis poses a fundamental ethical question: How are we to care for our neighbors and for Creation itself in the face of such disruption?

In this chapter, we explore climate change through a multi-faith spiritual lens. We consider how diverse religious and Indigenous traditions regard the Earth as sacred and emphasize humanity’s responsibility to care for it. We also highlight the interconnectedness of spiritual values, the natural world, and the pursuit of climate justice as a moral imperative. The goal is to inspire and guide all moral leaders – whether clergy, laypersons, or community elders – to draw upon rich spiritual teachings as they steward our planet in a time of profound change.

Sacred Teachings on Nature and Stewardship

Across cultures and eras, spiritual teachings have recognized the sacredness of nature and our duty to protect it. Nearly every faith tradition speaks of the Earth as a divine gift or an embodiment of the holy. In the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, for example, humanity’s role is described as tending the Garden of Creation: “God placed man in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15) (2). This notion of stewardship—caring for creation on behalf of the Creator—has become a cornerstone of Christian environmental ethics. Many churches today affirm that addressing climate change is a “deeply moral and spiritual” obligation (2). The Islamic concept of khalifa likewise teaches that humans are guardians or trustees of the Earth, accountable to God for how we treat the land, water, and all creatures. As one prominent Muslim scholar noted, fighting environmental destruction may be “the most positive way of bringing humanity together,” and religious leaders have a duty to engage with the environmental crisis (2). In Jewish tradition, the principle of tikkun olam (“repairing the world”) calls on each generation to preserve the Earth for those who come after: we must live within the planet’s limits so as not to compromise future generations’ well-being (2). Hindu and Buddhist philosophies too hold that the natural world is suffused with the divine. From the Ganges River revered as a goddess to the bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, Eastern traditions recognize that harming nature ultimately harms ourselves (2).

Importantly, Indigenous peoples have long upheld a spiritual relationship with the land. In many Indigenous cultures, the Earth is viewed as a living mother and all beings as relatives in a sacred web of life. This perspective instills a profound respect for nature and a sense of reciprocal responsibility.

As Indigenous elders often remind us, humanity is not separate from the Earth but part of it. Indeed, Indigenous knowledge keepers teach that “all people are one with the Land” (3).

Our role is therefore not as dominators of nature but as caretakers who honor the laws of nature and Spirit. For example, within the Potawatomi tradition, the concept of the “Honorable Harvest” guides people to take only what is needed and to give thanks for every gift from the Earth. Such teachings, echoed in countless cultures, remind us that caring for the Earth is a sacred trust – an expression of our gratitude, humility, and love.

These historical and living teachings form a tapestry of eco-spiritual wisdom. They converge on a vital message: to mistreat the Earth is to mistreat that which is holy. Whether one speaks of creation as the handiwork of God, the manifestation of the Great Spirit, or simply as our common home, the ethical implication is the same. As Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, a global Orthodox Christian leader, succinctly put it: tending to and caring for Creation “is a divine commandment; it is a religious obligation” (2). Such spiritual framing transforms environmental stewardship from a merely optional endeavor into a moral imperative central to living out one’s faith.

Interconnectedness and Climate Justice

A spiritual perspective on climate change emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life. If the Earth is sacred, so too are its inhabitants. The wellbeing of people, plants, animals, and ecosystems are intimately linked. Modern ecological science affirms this truth, but it has been understood in spiritual terms for millennia. Buddhist teachings describe the inter-being of all things, and many First Nations elders speak of the circle of life in which humans, animals, water, air, and soil all have a voice and role. This sense of connection extends our circle of moral concern to include all living beings. It fosters empathy and reverence beyond the human community, seeing, as Pope Francis wrote, “a communion with all of nature” in which the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor are one (1) (2). When we recognize this unity, environmental damage is understood not as an isolated technical problem, but as a breach of relationship – a spiritual rupture with consequences for humans and non-humans alike.

This holistic worldview naturally leads to the pursuit of climate justice. All major faiths uphold principles of justice, equity, and compassion, and these values are at the heart of the climate crisis. Those who contribute least to global warming (such as impoverished communities and Indigenous peoples) often suffer its worst impacts – droughts, floods, food insecurity, displacement. Such imbalance is fundamentally a moral issue. Justice demands that we address the disproportionate burdens and that we care for those who are most vulnerable. In Christian terms, it means honoring the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” in the context of a warming world (2). In Islam, it aligns with the Quranic call to protect the weak and uphold adl (justice) in all affairs. For Indigenous communities, fighting climate injustice is intertwined with defending their rights and traditional lands, recognizing that social and ecological healing must go hand in hand (4) (5). Climate change thus challenges us to extend our compassion and moral concern across boundaries—between human and animal, present and future generations, wealthy and poor, local community and global community. A spiritually grounded response insists on fairness, solidarity, and respect for all our relations.

Spiritual perspectives also inspire hope and action by affirming that humanity is capable of transformation. Many faith teachings offer an alternative to the consumerism and materialism that drive environmental harm (1). Simplicity, moderation, care for others, and gratitude for Creation are virtues lifted up by saints, sages, and prophets. By returning to these values, communities can resist a culture of endless consumption and instead embrace lifestyles of sustainability and respect. Indeed, faith communities today are modeling these changes: adopting renewable energy, divesting from fossil fuels, planting community gardens, and greening places of worship as acts of prayer and service. They demonstrate that caring for the Earth is a form of caring for each other – an act of love that reflects our deepest spiritual commitments (1). In the process, people of different religions are finding common ground. A “flourishing global interfaith movement” is bringing people together to protect and sustain life on Earth (6), showing that collaboration guided by shared moral vision can be a powerful force for change.