Abstract
This qualitative study explores the understanding of faith leaders in Nepal surrounding climate change and the ways they can address it through an eco-theological lens. Four approaches of eco-theology; social ecology, creation theology, eco-feminism and eco-spirituality served as a conceptual framework to understand faith leaders’ understanding about climate change and the underlying religious ideas behind it. In addition, three modes of transforming traditional theology; retrieval, reinterpretation and reconstruction, helped identify the ways faith leaders can develop eco-theology and address the climate change crisis. A total of 17 semi-structured interviews were conducted online with faith leaders adhering to diverse faith traditions in Nepal during the period April 2024 -February 2025. ATLAS.ti v25 was used for data storage and analysis. A thematic analysis shows that faith leaders acknowledged climate change as a real phenomenon attributed largely to anthropogenic causes, however with some differing views connected largely to creation theology, eco-feminism and eco-spirituality. Additionally, faith leaders identified diverse ways to address it including a) promoting environmental ethics that align with sustainability, b) biodiversity/ecosystem conservation, c) advocating for environmentally friendly diets and d) greening faith institutions, which largely connected with retrieval or reinterpretation. The study highlights the role faith leaders can play in developing eco-theology given the need to address some shortcomings including capacity development and the need for transformation inside faith traditions/institutions. The study concludes by highlighting the need for increased interfaith dialogue, and efforts from governmental/non-governmental stakeholders and the scientific community in addressing the biggest challenge of this century.
Presenters
Sagar PoudelStudent, Master's Degree in Religion - Peace and Conflict, Uppsala University, Sweden
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
CLIMATE CHANGE, CREATION THEOLOGY, ECO-FEMINISM, ECO-SPIRITUALITY, FAITH LEADERS, NEPAL
