Stewardship, Integrity of Creation and Climate Justice: Religious Ethics Insights - Earth Stewardship: Linking Ecology and Ethics in Theory and Practice - page 379

Furthermore, the religious leaders commit themselves:
To inform and inspire people in our own religious and cultural contexts to take responsibil-
ity for and to implement effective measures; to challenge political and business leaders
where we live and work to develop comprehensive strategies and action; to focus on the
struggle against global warming and draw upon our innermost religious convictions about
the meaning of life. This commitment is a deeply spiritual question concerning justice,
peace and hopes for a future in love and solidarity with all human beings and the whole of
creation (Uppsala 2008 , 15).
Justice is also presented as one of the common principles of religious
traditions:
We want to face the climate challenge with defi ant optimism to highlight the core principles
of all major sacred traditions of the world: justice, solidarity and compassion (Uppsala
2008 , 15).
Religious leaders, thus, recognize the role scientists and politicians play in
responding to the climate crisis and assume their own responsibility in informing
and inspiring believers to act effectively, in challenging politicians and businesses,
based on their religious convictions.
On the following year, an Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change ( 2009 ) was
endorsed by a hundred organizations and hundreds of individuals including, among
others the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Cardinal Wilfrid Napier
from South Africa, and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar from Bangalore, India. The Declaration
proclaims that:
The extraordinary delicacy of Nature's balance is becoming increasingly apparent, even as
human actions infl ict ever larger, more dangerous and potentially irreversible changes on
the indivisible web of atmosphere, earth, ocean and life that is creation. Today our faiths
stand united in their call to care for the Earth, and to protect the poor and the suffering.
Strong action on climate change is imperative by the principles and traditions of our faiths
and the collective compassion, wisdom and leadership of humanity (Interfaith Declaration
2009 , 1).
The declaration recognizes that “climate change is not merely an economic or
technical problem, but rather at its core is a moral, spiritual and cultural one” and
affi rms that “assisting vulnerable communities and species to survive and adapt to
climate change fulfi ls our calling to wisdom, mercy, and the highest of human moral
and ethical values” (Interfaith Declaration 2009 , 1).
These interfaith statements show that there is a growing consensus among reli-
gious leaders on the intimate relationship between their respective faith traditions
and the care for the Earth and that this is seen both as an ethical and spiritual issue.
At the same time in various parts of the world faith communities are becoming more
and more aware of their ecological responsibility and have responded through
different initiatives like “green” churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples, and
special times to pray for and refl ect on the Earth. However, we cannot say that this
awareness and action has been mainstreamed in religious communities. Although
some of these initiatives have 20 years or more, these concerns are shared only by a
very small minority among all faith communities.