Faith communities around the world have long spoken with moral clarity about the urgency of caring for creation. From Buddhist teachings on interconnection to the Orthodox Christian call to humility and responsibility, religious traditions remind us that climate change is not only a scientific or political issue—it is a deeply spiritual one. The statements below represent a sampling from official documents, policy statements, and theological frameworks. Together, they call us to reflect on our relationship with God, with one another, and with the Earth itself, and they invite us to live out our values in ways that honor and protect the world we share.
Here in Iowa, these national and global faith statements can spark local action. Congregations might read one during Sunday worship or a midweek service, use them as study materials for youth or adult classes, or share them with community partners as a way to build interfaith dialogue. They can also provide a spiritual foundation for advocacy—whether writing to legislators, joining a local climate march, or making sustainable choices in a church building. Most of all, they remind us that we are not alone. Across traditions and across the globe, people of faith are rising to the challenge of climate change with hope, love, and determination—and Iowa communities are an important part of that witness.
Statements like these are often updated, published in books rather than being online, or may be issued by groups within a particular faith tradition. In addition, this is not by any means intended to be a comprehensive list. If you know of one we missed, have a correction to suggest, etc., please contact us and provide a link or other details so that we can update this page. We also plan to create a related document in the future which contains official statements and resources from Christian denominations.
Download this page as a PDF. [link forthcoming]
Baha’i
“…we assert that the principle of the oneness of humankind must become the ruling principle of international life. This principle does not seek to undermine national autonomy or suppress cultural or intellectual diversity. Rather, it makes it possible to view the climate change challenge through a new lens – one that perceives humanity as a unified whole, not unlike the cells of the human body, infinitely differentiated in form and function yet united in a common purpose which exceeds that of its component parts. This principle constitutes more than a call for cooperation; it seeks to remold anachronistic and unjust patterns of human interaction in a manner that reflects the relationships that bind us as members of one human race.”
https://www.bic.org/statements/seizing-opportunity-redefining-challenge-climate-change
Buddhism
“Our concern is founded on the Buddha’s realization of dependent co-arising, which interconnects all things in the universe. Understanding this interconnected causality and the consequences of our actions are critical steps in reducing our environmental impact. Cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion, we will be able to act out of love, not fear, to protect our planet. Buddhist leaders have been speaking about this for decades. However, everyday life can easily lead us to forget that our lives are inextricably interwoven with the natural world through every breath we take, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Through our lack of insight, we are destroying the very life support systems that we and all other living beings depend on for survival.”
https://plumvillage.org/articles/buddhist-climate-change-statement-to-world-leaders-2015
Christianity – Eastern Orthodox
“In our understanding, the way we relate to nature as creation directly reflects the way we relate to God as Creator. There can be no distinction between concern for human welfare, protection of the environment, and care for our salvation. In order to restore the planet, we need a spirituality that brings humility and respect with regard to our attitudes and actions, our life choices and lifestyles. It should be abundantly clear by now that we must direct our focus away from what we want to what the planet needs. Dear friends, we must of course remain optimistic – confident in the love of God and hopeful in the response of humankind. But when will we understand how important it is to leave as light a footprint as possible on this planet for the sake of future generations? The truth is that we can no longer afford to wait; indecision and inaction are not options. Faith makes it clear that we have a choice. The time to choose is now.”
Christianity – Protestant
“The climate emergency is an ethical, moral and spiritual crisis, manifested in a fixation on profit. The extractive and, ultimately, unsustainable systems of production and consumption, by those complicit in this crisis, continue to ignore increasing scientific, and moral warnings…No further delay is possible if we are to have any chance of staying within the safer limit of +1.5°C global warming and of avoiding vastly more catastrophic climate change. Christ’s love calls us to deep solidarity and a quest for justice for those who have contributed to this emergency the least, yet suffer the most, physically, existentially, and ecologically, through a transformation of systems and lifestyles. Our theology must respond to an emergency of such dimensions.”
Christianity – Roman Catholic
“Given the complexity of the ecological crisis and its multiple causes, we need to realize that the solutions will not emerge from just one way of interpreting and transforming reality. Respect must also be shown for the various cultural riches of different peoples, their art and poetry, their interior life and spirituality. If we are truly concerned to develop an ecology capable of remedying the damage we have done, no branch of the sciences and no form of wisdom can be left out, and that includes religion and the language particular to it. The Catholic Church is open to dialogue with philosophical thought; this has enabled her to produce various syntheses between faith and reason. The development of the Church’s social teaching represents such a synthesis with regard to social issues; this teaching is called to be enriched by taking up new challenges.”
Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 63
Christianity – Evangelical
“While it may be tempting, it is unwise to assume that God would prevent us from drastically harming the earth. God is sovereign, yet he allows us to experience the natural outcomes of our actions. God lets us make poor decisions about our household budgets. He allows us to eat poorly or abuse our bodies with drugs. Likewise, even though God cares and provides for the creatures of the earth, humans have the freedom to make decisions that harm even the basic functions of ecosystems, such as polluting the oceans and deliberately or carelessly setting forest fires. God does not always shield us from the consequences of our actions in other areas of our lives, and we should not assume that he will do so when we are unfaithful stewards of the earth.”
Nat. Assoc. of Evangelicals, “Loving the Least of These,” 18
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
“God has made us accountable for the care and preservation of the earth and the wise use of its resources. As stewards, we must be diligent in using the earth’s resources wisely, using only what we need and being conscious of the effects of our actions on the environment and others. We strive to make our homes, neighborhoods, and cities beautiful, recognizing that doing so requires careful consideration based on local circumstances. We preserve resources and protect for future generations the spiritual and temporal blessings of nature.”
Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability
Hinduism
“Climate change creates pain, suffering, and violence. Unless we change how we use energy, how we use the land, how we grow our crops, how we treat other animals, and how we use natural resources, we will only further this pain, suffering, and violence. On a personal basis, we can reduce this suffering by beginning to transform our habits, simplifying our lives and material desires, and not taking more than our reasonable share of resources. Adopting a plant-based diet is one of the single most powerful acts that a person can take in reducing environmental impact. In doing all of this, we help maintain the ecological and cosmic order, an order that allows life and existence to flourish.”
https://www.hinduamerican.org/hindu-declaration-climate-change-2015
Indigenous Traditions
“There is no more time for discussion on preventing “Climate Change”. That opportunity has passed. “Climate Change” is here. The Air is not the same anymore. The Water is not the same anymore. The Earth is not the same anymore. The Clouds are not the same anymore. The Rain is not the same anymore. The Trees, the Plants, the Animals, Birds, Fish, Insects and all the others are not the same anymore. All that is Sacred in Life is vanishing because of our actions. The truth is we have moved beyond climate change to survival. We’ve entered the state of survival because of the magnitude of the desecration, damage, and destruction to the Creator’s Sacred Creation.”
Islam
“We humans – created, according to the teachings of our faith, to be accountable khalīfahs on the Earth, entrusted to care for it and the communities of life it harbours – have not only filled it with corruption and bloodshed, but may already have initiated the sixth mass extinction of complex life in the history of the planet. It is hard to imagine a more grievous indictment or one more indefensible: Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea by what the hands of humankind have wrought, that He may let them taste some consequences of their deeds, so that they may turn back.” (30:41)
Al Mizah: A Covenant for the Earth, p. 6, https://www.almizan.earth/
Judaism
“The overwhelming global scientific consensus confirms what we see with our own eyes: hurricanes, superstorms, wildfires, drought, dangerous air quality for months at a time – each year worse than the last. The impact does not affect us all equally. Those in our society with less power and fewer resources, already more vulnerable, are hit hardest by the traumatic impact of climate change. Jewish values compel us to confront this crisis, and our commitment to Jewish community compels us to do so together…The Jewish people have a long history. Our ancestors endured suffering and calamity, then rose to meet the next challenge. It is now our generation’s imperative to confront this existential crisis together with communities across the world. Our children and grandchildren need us. Our hope is not yet lost.”
From the founding statement of the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition
Jainism
“The principal tenet of conduct followed by Jains is that of Ahimsa or non-violence to any living being…Jains teachings prohibit Jains from engaging in professions that harm plants, animals and the earth. Another key tenet followed by Jains is Aparigraha (non-possessiveness), to limit one’s consumption and material possessions. Ahimsa and Aparigraha as taught and traditionally practiced have great relevance to the climate crisis. Other aspects of Jain philosophy are exemplified by the traditional teaching: Parasparo Pagraho Jivanam, meaning all life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence, or as an alternate translation, souls render service to each other…We encourage the world community to act now, so we can avert catastrophe and take better care of our world.”
Jain Declaration on the Climate Crisis
American Humanist Association
“The Earth’s climate is experiencing destabilization, and our planet’s ability to sustain life as we know it is in crisis. Humanists must join others in leading efforts to reduce human activities causing climate change to ecologically sustainable levels…As humanists, it is crucial that we recognize that the responsibility to create and maintain sustainable methods of living is a collective one. As humanists, we acknowledge the damage done to our environment has been caused by human action and constitutes an existential threat to humanity and many other species that have not already been wiped out. As humanists, we understand that only humans can save ourselves from the climate crises we have created.”
Sikh Tradition of Conservation (Guru Granth Sahib)
“…Men, trees, pilgrimage places, banks of sacred streams, clouds, fields. Islands, spheres, universes, continents, solar systems. The sources of creation, egg-born, womb-born, earth-born, sweat-born, oceans, mountains and sentient beings. He, the Lord, knows their condition, O Nanak. Nanak, having created beings, the lord takes care of them all. The Creator who created the world, He takes thought of it as well…”
Sikh Faith Statement on the Environment
Unitarian Universalist Association
“Earth is our home. We are part of this world and its destiny is our own. Life on this planet will be gravely affected unless we embrace new practices, ethics, and values to guide our lives on a warming planet. As Unitarian Universalists, how can our faith inform our actions to remedy and mitigate global warming/climate change? We declare by this Statement of Conscience that we will not acquiesce to the ongoing degradation and destruction of life that human actions are leaving to our children and grandchildren. We as Unitarian Universalists are called to join with others to halt practices that fuel global warming/climate change, to instigate sustainable alternatives, and to mitigate the impending effects of global warming/climate change with just and ethical responses. As a people of faith, we commit to a renewed reverence for life and respect for the interdependent web of all existence.”
Threat of Global Warming/Climate Change, 2006 Statement of Conscience