ABSTRACT
Climate change continues to be a catastrophe that has affected many lives and caused devastation to the environment in Africa and across the globe. However, it is worth noting that Africa has contributed relatively little to carbon emissions, save for South Africa. The fifth assessment report of the IPCC, published in 2014, uses the word “religion” only once and it uses it in relation to adaptation to the changing climate. This reference has negative undertones because it sees religion posing as a barrier to an adequate response to climate change. However, each religious tradition has its own way of offering its unique set of moral values and virtues to guide human beings in their relationship with the environment. There are divergent views on the role religion has played in the climate change debate, as the environment continues to be depleted, due to human greed and exploitation. Due to the rapid impact of climate change on people and the deterioration of the environment, there is a sudden interest in religious traditions willing to take up the challenges and help protect and conserve the environment. Hinduism, like other world religions, has been fully engaged in the ecological crises. This chapter asserts that Hinduism, though relatively new in Africa, has, like Christianity and African traditional religions, been addressing issues of climate change. The discussion will revolve around the teachings of Hinduism in relation to conservation while highlighting the role played by the religion in addressing climate change in Africa.
