Overview of Teachings/Beliefs on Climate Justice

Today, we must renounce our culture of materialism marked by overconsumption and unlimited growth. This renunciation is at the core of our Buddhist faith and practice. Our sense of selflessness, modesty, equality, compassion, and the sacredness of all of life demands it.

A prayer for our earth is not enough. Calling for healing is not enough. Our spiritualities demand we seek peace with each other and with the planet. But it also demands that we work to end suffering and violence. This crisis affecting our very survival is perhaps the greatest violence humanity has ever committed. The suffering it will unleash is unprecedented. Many already suffer the effects of extreme climate events.

Buddhism teaches us that there is a path to the end of suffering. It teaches us that on that path lies right action – the imperative to act with moral clarity in the face of injustice; right speech – the imperative to speak truth; and right livelihood – the imperative to live simply, within the capacity of the earth. It teaches us that all living things are connected and that how we treat other living things has a profound effect not only on our personal karma and path to enlightenment, but also on the enlightenment of our nations and our national and global karma.

If we are to take seriously our path as Buddhists, we must take seriously our responsibility to first do no harm, which means reducing our consumption and waste, and second, to help others do the same. We need to learn to live simply, within the carrying capacity of the earth. Since we have already gone beyond that capacity, it will be necessary also to do what we can to restore the earth and all life to health – clean air and water, enriched soils, reforestation and regeneration. We must hold fossil fuel companies, banks, and governments responsible for their direct contributions to this crisis. We must resist the easy choice to detach from these concerns and instead must speak and act for the preservation of our planet and a more just society.

That is why we—as Buddhists, as seekers of peace and compassion—must demand an immediate end to any new oil, coal or gas projects, a phase out of existing fossil fuel projects, and a broad commitment to energy conservation at all levels of society supported by a rapid and just transition to a clean energy future. No bridge fuels, no temporary expansions of drilling, no delays. The end of fossil fuels and our addiction to consumerism and growth must begin now. We must understand how our consumption keeps the fossil fuel industry in business and our teachings make it clear that true peace and happiness can only be found within, not in more things.

To do less is to fall short to our responsibility to alleviate the suffering of our neighbors, children, and future generations.

 Commonly Used Sacred Texts Related to Climate Justice

Resources and Examples

for Leading Worship/Liturgy

• Alliance of Religions and Conservation information on ecology and Buddhism website capture. This information can also be found in Faith in Conservation by Martin Palmer with Victoria Finlay, published by the World Bank in 2003.

• An article, “An Assessment of Climate Engineering from a Buddhist Perspective”

• Article “Spirituality and Ecology from a Buddhist Perspective Engaged Buddhist actions across Asia” by Somboon Chungprampree (Edited by Jane Rasbash and Fletcher Harper)

• Mission Dharma Teachers’ Statement on Climate Change

for Prayers

• A Sampling of Prayers and Religious/Spiritual Statements for #LightForLima

• Multifaith document of prayers for #LightforLima

• World Healing website capture of prayers

for Rituals

• Breathing meditation/prayer document from OurVoices