Judaic, Christian and Islamic Leaders on Mitigating Human-induced Climate Change

Leaders of Judaism, Christianity and Islam have publicly advocated action to mitigate the adverse
effects of human-forced climate change. Particularly prominent prior to, during, and after the 21st
Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change were
Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Pope Francis, and Patriarch Bartholomew. Also prominent was a group of
Islamic clerics, leaders of organizations, and scholars who collaborated in issuing a declaration on
climate change three months prior to COP 21. Informed by the Earth sciences, these leaders shared
their faith-based rationales for acting locally to internationally as indicated in the documents explored
in this essay. Examples of organizations motivated by their leaders’ faith perspectives demonstrate
their readiness to act informed by scientists. To work effectively, these religious leaders and activist
groups require well-substantiated conclusions from data collected to counter unsubstantiated claims
by climate skeptics and deniers. Earth scientists will find among the religious leaders and groups
allies in the quest for a flourishing planet. While remaining alert to scientific findings, scholars of the
world religions must dig deeply into the traditions on which they focus and make promising insights
known to leaders who can teach, preach, act, and pray with members of their communities. Earth
scientists will find these religious scholars, leaders, and affiliated groups allies in the quest for a
flourishing Earth—our common home.