Background: Enviromental Crisis and the Role of Religion

In recent years, environmental protection and climate problems are on the public agenda in most countries. This is due to several factors: climate change has become noticeable, global biodiversity is deteriorating, and we have gained more knowledge about plastic pollution.  

This means that environmental ethics and environmental education is been given a high priority in society, schools and religious communities. 

During the last 50 years, religious scholars and leaders have been working actively to integrate environmental ethics and practise in their context. Churches, mosques and  other religious communities have developed theology and established practical projects to engage members in efforts for nature and the environment. 

Parallel to this, Norwegian schools are working actively with sustainability, specifically in how this issue can be an interdisciplinary subject and how it should be integrated into Curriculums of Religion in public schools. In other words, there is a need for knowledge about how religious institutions work with this question. 

In short: There is a need for research, sharing of data and experiences about how religious institutions are facing environmental problems.