ABSTRACT
This chapter reflects on the potential of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) to develop a theology that responds to the threat of climate change. It argues that such a theology is more likely to be successful when young people are driving its emergence. The UCZ theology must engage with the indiscriminate cutting of trees and the pollution of water bodies. Such a theology must be holistic and cover not only the spiritual but also the physical well-being of humanity and creation. This is critical and requires a rigorous approach. The call to restoration must also address environmental protection, and teachings must be centred on a clear response to climate change. The UCZ that was born on 16 January 1965 boasts of over three million members, with the youth constituting the majority. The youth are key partners to the church’s mission and are well placed to become active agents to drive the theology to address climate change. One way this could be achieved is by using its schools. At the time of writing, these schools were Kafue Boys, Chipembi Girls, Sefula, Mwandi, Masuku, Njase Girls, Mwenzo Girls, Mable Shaw, Senga Hill, Lubwa, and Nambala. The young people in such schools could act as agents of social change to a society that is ready to impact positively to the threat of climate change. The youth in the UCZ could essentially become active voices in advocacy and awareness creation on the need to care for mother earth. This will go a long way in helping to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13, which focuses on climate change and its impacts.
