Religion and the Environment

[1] Changes in Earth’s climate made evident in melting glaciers, thawing tundra, and coastal flooding are putting many forms of life on the planet at risk of extinction. Although the full range of causes for global warming are currently being debated, few scientists would deny that a major contributing cause is human produced carbon dioxide and methane emissions that are accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere, causing a slow warming of our planet. The increase in greenhouse gases on the biosphere will impact every region, especially Asia where over sixty percent of the world’s human population lives. Climate change brings with it challenges that must be faced, including how to stop global warming, how to plan for the global warming that cannot be entirely avoided, and how to conceive of human progress and development in ways that will result in a more equitable sharing of resources among humans and in the sustainability of life, not only for humans but also for Earth’s other species.