The global citizen and religious position statements on climate change

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss opportunities to analyze religious position statements calling climate change action a moral imperative. Design/methodology/approach In a lesson suited for the secondary history classroom, students will analyze how religious leaders, theologians and ecological and religious academics use passages from sacred texts to establish a moral urgency to mitigate climate change. Findings After analyzing these interpretations of sacred writings from five global faiths (Hinduism, Judaism, Catholicism, Islam and Anglicanism), the lesson centers on a dialogical question, “How might climate change action be influenced by religious texts?” Originality/value Implications emphasize why social studies teachers should not teach climate change as a controversial issue.