Bahá’ís have a strong vision of a future global society, and see climate change as an important force compelling the nations and peoples of the world to give priority to their common interest. In 1938, Shoghi Effendi included scenarios of the ever-advancing civilization that can result from a principle-based approach to world challenges like climate change, with a federated world government able to maintain collective security, to manage the planet’s vast resources and to distribute its products equitably.
The Universal House of Justice in its 29 November 2017 letter on climate change has written: “One of the most pressing problems of humanity in the current century is how a growing, rapidly developing, and not yet united global population can, in a just manner, live in harmony with the planet and its finite resources. Certain biological realities present themselves when an organism negatively affects or exceeds the capacity of its ecosystem. The limited availability and inequitable distribution of resources profoundly impact social relations within and between nations in many ways, even to the point of precipitating upheaval and war. And particular arrangements of human affairs can have devastating consequences for the environment. The question of the impact of climate change, and to what extent it is man-made and its effects can be ameliorated, is today a major aspect of this larger problem. The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh directly and indirectly touches on a range of such concerns in a manner that speaks to a harmony between society and the natural world. It is essential, therefore, that Bahá’ís contribute to thought and action regarding such matters”.
To preserve the abovementioned harmony, Bahá’u’llah exhorts His followers “Take from this world only to the measure of your needs, and forego that which exceedeth them. Observe equity in all your judgements, and transgress not the bounds of justice, nor be of them that stray from its path.” – The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 194
Public releases from the Bahá’í International Community such as Seizing the Opportunity: Redefining the challenge of climate change have stated that the issue of climate change is very much linked to preserving the environment and therefore connected to the idea of collective responsibility. Bahá’u’lláh stated that “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens”. As such, individuals, communities and nations across the world have crucial roles in mobilising humanity through innovative methods of action and interaction with the environment, including protection of wildlife, land and oceans. For many decades the Bahá’í International Community has worked with the United Nations Organization to encourage preservation of the environment through qualities such as care, sharing, compassion and justice. For example, it represented a Bahá’í perspective and practical examples of the learning in Baha’i communities, as in Vanuatu and Malaysia after natural disasters, and in Baha’i-inspired courses on climate change in the UN organized conference on climate change, the Paris climate change conference, movement towards global unity.
Neglecting the issue of climate change is a consequence of not caring for our environment. The latter can be associated with several factors such as a lack of unity among peoples of the earth as well as the absence of a world citizenship conscience. For centuries, due to excessive nationalism, countries have not been encouraged to look much beyond their borders and act as members of just one global family. Rather, they continuously strive inwardly, with an unhealthy sense of patriotism, to assert their supremacy over other nationalities or ethnic groups. Such a destructive disposition has inhibited nations to care for their neighbouring or more remote countries.
As such, being concerned about climate change transcends borders and frontiers requiring thinking beyond ourselves. Neglecting such a spiritual principle implies that the ingredient of world unity is missing, making mankind unable to create a global space where all care about the future of the earth’s physical conditions. Climate change is perhaps the best (or worst) example of humanity caught in their own divisions and differences. As seen on the media, industrialised countries still cannot come to an agreement on the basic terms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting to levels where existence on earth can be compromised.
If nations of the earth were united and considered themselves as inhabitants of the same country, problems such as climate change, deforestation, land degradation, carbon emissions, and in general, every human activity leading to the destruction of nature would be prevented because nations would not be putting their own interests above the global needs of the human race and the well-being of future generations. As Bahá’u’lláh had said in the 19th century:
“ That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” – Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh , CXVII, pp. 249-250
Read More
Climate Change, The Universal House of Justice, Department of Secretariat, 29 November 2017.
International Environment Forum, A Bahá’í inspired organization for environment and sustainability
Ethical Dimension of Climate Change, Presented by the Governments of the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, and the Baha’i International Community.
Science, Faith and Global Warming: Arising to the Challenge