Theological Responses to Climate Change: A Faith-Based Approach to Poverty and Political Instability

Joseph O. Ige PhD

doi:10.56201/jpslr.vol.12.no3.2026.pg148.159

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Theological Responses to Climate Change: A Faith-Based Approach to Poverty and Political Instability

Joseph O. Ige PhD

Abstract

Climate change is not only an ecological crisis but a major moral, social, political crisis that is overburdening the poor and leading to instability in susceptible areas. This paper will discuss such theological reactions to climate change, and how religion-related views can be used to address their intersection with poverty and political instability. The research will rely on inter- disciplinary literature and religiously based moral setups to examine how religious doctrines, institutions, and societies perceive the issue of environmental degradation as a question of justice, stewardship and human dignity. This paper examines the contribution of faith-based organizations to climate advocacy, poverty alleviation, and peacebuilding processes, which can be considered to shape the resilience of the general population and their impact on the policy. The study suggests by combining the theological consideration with the socio-political realities that religious reactions provide both normative inspiration and practical solutions to inequality and war created by climate. The results indicate that faith-based strategies may play a valuable role in sustainable development, social cohesion, and ethical climate governance, especially in the situation when the religious institutions are highly socially legitimate. The article wraps up by stating that theological dealing with the issue of climate change is necessary in order to have holistic and justice-focused solutions to issues of worldwide environmental problems.

Keywords

Climate change; Theology; Faith-based organizations; Poverty; Political instability; Environmental justice

References

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Theological Responses to Climate Change: A Faith-Based Approach to Poverty and Political Instability

Abstract

Keywords

References

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