Spirit’s vital role in climate action
Through prayer and meditation, we can help save the vulnerable
As inhabitants of this precious Earth, I believe each of us must play a role in protecting its finite resources. But before you decide your next course of action — be it attending a climate march or writing a check to your favorite eco-friendly charity — I suggest that you first be still, close your eyes, and listen to the whisperings of your soul.
Because though we all know what we need to do to address the concrete outer dimensions of the climate challenge — through science, politics and energy — I believe that work must be grounded in what I call the “inner dimensions” to climate action. Before we can act effectively, we must find in our hearts the will to protect the vulnerable, the sense of responsibility to preserve the splendor of nature, and the bravery to change the world.
As a faith leader and longtime climate activist, I believe the inner aspects of climate action can be cultivated through a strong spiritual connection to one another, and with God. Through a strengthening of inner will, and through openness to the deep qualities of the divine in the universe, we can find the fortitude to fix the external issues. That’s why more and more faith-based groups are taking action, including many attending the United Nations climate negotiations this week in Bonn, Germany.
The world’s organized faiths and the indigenous spiritual traditions each cultivates sets of religious qualities — compassion is associated with Buddhism, forgiveness with Christianity, for instance. At last year’s climate negotiations, the delegation I lead for the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church found many young adult Muslims attending our public meditation, chant and prayer services saying, “This is exactly what we were looking for — we know how to do technical work on climate change; we were looking for the spiritual support for our work.”
That spiritual support is important, because climate change is a global existential threat. Island nations will disappear if emissions aren’t controlled, our agricultural systems face increases in droughts and deluges that destroy crops, heat waves parch lands and take lives — particularly the sick and elderly. These were some of the top-line findings of the Climate Science Special Report released Nov. 3 by the federal government, reinforcing what we know about climate change: It’s happening, humans are responsible, and consequences will be severe.
The Bible says to care for the most vulnerable, that we must protect “the least among us,” but this sentiment is hardly unique to Christianity. In the face of such overwhelmingly bad news, spiritual growth prepares us to withstand the constant stress of planetary crisis, to face the torrent of extreme weather disasters with a willingness to help instead of a retreat to denial and ignorance in the face of such widespread suffering.
This is why our public worship and reflection services are so important, both at global climate negotiations and in our faith institutions every day. To address the enormous challenge of climate change, we must bring these inner dimensions of climate action forward.
In addition to our representation at major climate meetings, faith institutions are committing to the We Are Still In effort. We Are Still In is a movement to work to meet the United States’ commitment to the Paris Agreement, whether or not the U.S. administration withdraws. This movement began after the U.S. presidential election in 2016. Its central idea is that coalitions of states, regions and cities in partnership with businesses can, together, keep the U.S. commitment to the Paris Agreement. At this point, more than 2,500 leaders have signed on, from faith groups, universities, businesses to government leaders like mayors and governors. I and many other people of faith have understood that faith bodies can do our part, too.
And, as individuals, we can do even more. Just imagine the power of the millions of faithful people who are already climate activists in addressing this challenge.
Following this year’s climate negotiations, we hope that more and more of the faithbased climate activists will connect with one another and with their civil society partners to make the faith movement a powerful force in addressing the climate threat and protecting vulnerable communities.
While the external demands of climate action can feel overwhelming, cultivating the inner strength to face them is a matter of faith.
In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus speaks of a widow whose demands for justice are met only after her unrelenting persistence, teaching us the importance of advocacy as prayer.
I have been guided by the belief that when I take action for justice, based on the values that have been formed in me by my faith, I am, in fact, praying.
I believe you, too, can find this guidance, whether you follow a deeply rooted faith practice or simply meditate on the stirrings of your heart. Within your heart are values, treasures really — compassion, courage, forgiveness, ambition. These values and more will reveal themselves if you open yourself to them. Our actions depend on these values. Climate action begins within. For me, climate action is prayer.
The Right Rev. Marc Handley Andrus is the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California. The Episcopal Church has 1.8 million members in 16 countries.