God, Creation and Climate Change: Spiritual and Ethical Perspectives (LWF Studies)

Around the world people are experiencing the effects of climate change: water and air temperatures are rising at alarming rates, adversely affecting the habitats that sustain life for fish, animals, plants and human beings. Devastation caused both by more severe droughts and floods is increasing. Storms and hurricanes are becoming more frequent and intense. New diseases are appearing and old ones are spreading. In overly industrialized areas, the air quality is deteriorating. Climate conditions are affecting people s health and in some areas heat-related deaths are on the increase. Hunger is predicted to escalate as the climate changes. Many LWF member churches are deeply affected by and increasingly active in addressing concerns regarding climate change. Ecumenical, interfaith, and civil society collaboration is crucial in the efforts being made to seek changes in local, national, and global practices. Climate change is more than just a secular environmental issue; it is an issue that goes to the core of our faith and spirituality and is reflected in the ways we view the world. Climate change is moving us to reconsider how we have thought about God and the rest of creation.

This resource was developed to address the theological issues involved in the changes people are experiencing and to address many of the questions or assumptions in these terms.