Does religion have the power to persuade us to take climate action?

Religious principles have been applied to campaigns ranging from the civil rights movement led by the Reverend Martin Luther King to the Jubilee 2000 Debt Relief for developing countries, when Pope John Paul II met with U2 singer Bono to pronounce a “moral vision of what the good of individuals and of the human family demands”. 

Professor Michael Pollitt of Cambridge Judge Business School, who has written extensively on the role of faith in climate policy, says climate-change campaigners are now using religion the wrong way by preaching a fire-and-brimstone message of doom rather than Dr King’s uplifting vision of a ‘promised land’. 

Using positive messaging instead of apocalyptic language to inspire people to tackle climate change

“Those who are involved in climate policy have adopted a lot of religious language but they don’t use religious methods,” says Michael, Professor of Business Economics at Cambridge Judge. “They present the need for climate action with reference to guilt-inducing apocalyptic scenarios. Climate change, according to them, is something we must stop for the sake of our children or we’re all going to hell.” 

“The history of religious movements teaches us that this approach is only a partially successful moral strategy. It may have worked in the 19th century, but it’s not going to work now and we need a much more positive message – we need to frame climate action as a good thing. Religious movements of all denominations are about inspiring people to do the right thing – not brow beating them into doing the right thing. Religions are about hope.” 

Thus, in our pandemic-affected era in which politicians said they would ‘follow the science’, Michael believes that scientists could benefit from listening to world religions when it comes to approaching climate change: “If scientists lead the campaign to change people’s attitude to climate change, they seem doomed to be unsuccessful, if only because leading a movement for mass social change is not their primary role in society.” 

Professor Michael Pollitt’s background in faith, economics and energy consulting 

Growing up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during the sectarian divide there over many decades (known as ‘the Troubles’), Michael is no stranger to religious division and the challenges of any multifaith approach. He dates becoming a Christian to his first week as an undergraduate studying economics at the University of Cambridge in 1986. “I thought I was a Christian before then, but I made a commitment at Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge during Freshers Week”, which is the first week for students on campus. 

“I’m an economist who happens to be Christian,” says Michael, simply. “I’m not seeking to reinvent economics. I’m seeking to use it better. I started writing about economics and faith when I was a graduate student and have been Convenor for the Association for Christian Economics since 2000. I’ve always been in academia and interested in economic policy. I’ve done a lot of consulting, worked with energy regulators, and written pieces for think tanks. The economics I do tries to have impact.”  

Why there is a precedent for religion bringing about societal change 

With 84% of the world’s population professing some religious affiliation, focusing this group’s ability to inspire towards climate action would be powerful. Michael’s recommendations include a 2-way dialogue between climate policy makers and religious leaders on effective action. He argues that the only way to bring about change in people’s lifestyles is through some sort of religious or moral conviction. 

“The enactment of net zero climate change policy requires both lifestyle and behavioural changes that religious practice and observance can help to change,” he writes in a chapter called “Moral drivers and lenses: policy, economy, faith and climate change”, published in a book published last year called ‘Research Handbook on Energy, Law and Ethics’. “Religious engagement can also help with getting societies to vote for policies which will involve both higher cost, inconvenience and changed behaviour. Religion also affects individuals’ willingness to help others beyond their borders.” 

Beyond civil rights and debt relief, the book chapter also highlights the role religion played in the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall (which happened after a prayer meeting) and in the peaceful transition to democracy from apartheid in South Africa in the early 1990s.

Religious texts used to support the need for climate action

Michael is clear that his views are his own and don’t necessarily reflect those of other Christian economists. “I am sure that not all economists will agree with me, let alone all theologians!” he writes in a book chapter entitled “What do theologians need to know about economics,”, published in the 2015 book ‘Theology and Economics: a Christian Version of the Common Good’. 

Yet he is determined, as he wrote there, to address “common misconceptions some theologians appear to have about economics, or what I imagine I might have heard down at ‘the theological pub’!”  

8 religious perspectives on climate change from Professor Pollitt’s research

Global attempts to tackle emissions rely on international relations and free trade

Global collaboration around climate action is often focused on the annual gathering of world leaders at the climate conference held by the United Nations, the so-called COP (Conference of the Parties) meetings. 

“Unless we can improve international relations, the achievement of net zero is dead,” says Michael. “Unless we can set aside our political differences enough to realise we have this common, existential threat, climate policy is destined to fail and I think it will gradually begin to unravel. I think unless China, in particular, can be brought back into greater engagement with the global community the achievement of net zero is going to be next to impossible. 

“Increased trade protectionism is a real problem for climate change: we need international, unrestricted trade in low-carbon equipment and without it the whole logical superstructure of decarbonisation begins to collapse. Voters aren’t stupid and they realise that if we’re going to keep spending money on net zero without actually achieving it, we’ll eventually have to stop.”

6 ways religion can be engaged in the promotion of greener policies

Michael provides 6 ways he thinks religion can be engaged in the promotion of greener policies.

Bringing the poor and marginalised into focus: what religion can teach economists and academics

One of the key things that Christian theology emphasises is a concern for the poor and marginalised.  

“I think one of the deep challenges to any academic discipline is whether it’s overly focused on richer, better educated people,” says Michael. “Economics tends to focus on richer countries, most economic analysis is done on richer countries, and it also tends to not do as much work as it should on deep-seated economic problems of poverty – partly because it’s difficult to do that work, but also because there is less funding available. 

“As an academic your job is not to be an advocate, it’s not to be an investigative journalist. Your trade is in ideas – it’s not even in winning arguments, it’s more about putting arguments out there and articulating them clearly. If some people find them helpful, that’s great, but I’d rather be right than win. I’d rather have a deeper understanding.” 

Recommendations for future research on links between religion and climate change policy 

The links between moral beliefs, religion and climate change policy are poorly researched. There is very little research on how religious belief affects environmentally conscious actions.  

 “More dialogue is needed between scientists and theologians in order to better understand how religion supports the climate issues and how religious texts can be used in support of climate policy action”, says Michael. “This might ensure that we have policies and associated laws enacted that can deliver the changes to our way of life that are morally and environmentally sustainable.”