{{Short description|Christian environmental movement}} '''Evangelical environmentalism''' is an environmental movement in which some Evangelical Christian organizations have emphasized biblical mandates concerning humanity's role as steward and subsequent responsibility for the care taking of Creation. While the movement has focused on different environmental issues, it is best known for its focus of addressing climate action from a biblically-grounded theological perspective.
Some Evangelical groups have allied with environmentalists in teaching knowledge and developing awareness of global warming related to human activities.
==Overview== Evangelical environmentalists are based on the Bible, particularly on Genesis 2:15,<ref>{{bibleverse|Gen|2:15||2:15}}</ref> to take care of God's Creation: "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."<ref>Katharine K. Wilkinson, ''Between God and Green: How Evangelicals Are Cultivating a Middle Ground on Climate Change'', OUP USA, 2012, p. 15</ref>
From an Evangelical environmentalist perspective, the response to the ecological crisis involves the restoration of correct doctrine, the restoration of Christianity as guide, and a balancing of the Bible and biology. It is important to Evangelical environmentalists that they are not seen as worshiping nature; they feel obligated to the stewardship of creation because of their focus on the creator of nature.<ref>Kearns, L. 1997. Noah's Ark Goes to Washington: A Profile of Evangelical Environmentalism. ''Social Compass,'' 44:349-366.</ref>
In ''Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet'' Merritt states the ''Noah Covenant'' is God entering a Covenant with all the Earth by citing Gen 9:9-10.<ref>Merritt, Jonathan (2010) ''Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet'' page 59 ({{ISBN|978-0-446-55725-2}})</ref> Merritt continues from Gen 2:15 ... * "Cultivate it and keep it" New American Standard Bible * "Tend it and watch over it" New Living Translation * "Work it and keep it" English Standard Version * "Take care of it and to look after it" Holman Christian Standard Bible * "Till it and watch keep it" Revised Standard Version<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=1801|title=Bible, Revised Standard Version|website=quod.lib.umich.edu}}</ref> * "Work the ground and keep it in order" The Message (Bible)
== Evangelical organizations == === International Evangelical Environmental Network === The International Evangelical Environmental Network was founded in 1992 by the World Evangelical Alliance.<ref>Roger S. Gottlieb, ''The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Ecology'', Oxford University Press, USA, 2006, p. 569</ref> In 2021, the Network has engaged in a number of candlelight vigils throughout the United States.<ref name="rollingstone1">{{cite web|last=Morris |first=Alex |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/limate-change-evangelical-vigil-interview-1253328/ |title=Could Prayer Make People Take Climate Change Seriously? |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2021-08-08 |accessdate=2021-11-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author= Luis Andres Henao and Jessie Wardarski|url=https://apnews.com/article/climate-united-nations-general-assembly-science-business-united-nations-18e6ae73cbb5f392dc3a09ebbe68eb27|title=Faith groups increasingly join fight against climate change|website=apnews.com|date=November 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/candlelight-vigil-to-bring-awareness-towards-climate-change|title=Grand Rapids candlelight vigils bring awareness to climate change|date=November 7, 2021|website=WXMI}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author= Kyle Meyaard-Schaap|url=https://religionnews.com/2021/11/05/im-lighting-a-candle-for-climatevigil-on-november-6-you-can-too/|title=I'm lighting a candle for #ClimateVigil on Nov. 6. You can, too. |newspaper=religionnews.com|date= November 5, 2021|accessdate=2021-11-08}}</ref>
Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA) was founded as youth ministry by the Evangelical Environmental Network.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://insideclimatenews.org/news/21112018/evangelicals-climate-change-action-creation-care-wheaton-college-millennials-yeca|title=Generation Climate: Can Young Evangelicals Change the Climate Debate?|last=Subramaniam|first=Meera|date=2018-11-21|website=InsideClimate News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Jaradat |first=Mya |url=https://www.deseret.com/faith/2021/11/6/22752617/america-youth-religious-spiritual-mistrust-institutions-unaffiliated-social-justice-chris-stedman |title=How does Gen Z do religion? How do young people feel about church?|work=Deseret News |date= 6 November 2021|accessdate=2021-11-08}}</ref> Members of Young Evangelicals for Climate Action participated in the September 2019 climate strikes at about a dozen colleges and universities, with a message of creation care and a faith-based approach to "speaking up for people's right to clean air and water and a stable climate."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://insideclimatenews.org/news/20092019/we-see-your-greed-global-climate-strike-draws-millions-young-people-demanding-action|title='We See Your Greed': Global Climate Strike Draws Millions Demanding Action|last1=Tigue|first1=Kristoffer|last2=Gustin|first2=Georgina|date=2019-09-20|website=InsideClimate News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-21}}</ref>
=== Evangelical Climate Initiative === The Evangelical Climate Initiative was launched in February 2006 by the National Association of Evangelicals in the United States.<ref>Brian Steensland, Philip Goff, ''The New Evangelical Social Engagement'', Oxford University Press USA, USA, 2014, p. 163</ref> The initiative aims to campaign for environmental reform, calling on all Christians to push for federal legislation that would reduce carbon dioxide emissions in an effort to stem global warming.<ref name=":0" />
=== Creation Care Task Force === The Creation Care Task Force was founded in 2012 by the World Evangelical Alliance.<ref>Jayson Casper, [https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/september/un-climate-summit-pope-francis-welby-bartholomew-lwccn.html Evangelicals Endorse Unprecedented Ecumenical Plea for the Environment], christianitytoday.com, USA, September 16, 2021</ref> In 2019, it established a Sustainability Center in Bonn, Germany.<ref>EVANGELICAL FOCUS, [https://evangelicalfocus.com/science/4375/world-evangelical-alliance-establishes-sustainability-center-in-bonn World Evangelical Alliance establishes Sustainability Center in Bonn], evangelicalfocus.com, USA, 15 April 2019</ref>
==Criticism== In January 2006, a group of evangelicals opposed the Evangelical Climate Initiative's stance and issued a letter to the NAE which stated that "global warming is not a consensus issue, and our love for the Creator and respect for His Creation does not require us to take a position [supporting a cap and trade tax increase]". In 2007 the ''New York Times'' reported, "leaders of the conservative Christian wing of the Republican Party, including James Dobson, Gary Bauer and Paul Weyrich, told the policy director of the NAE, the Rev. Richard Cizik, to shut up already about global warming".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/opinion/10sat4.html | work=The New York Times | title=Evangelical Environmentalism | date=10 March 2007}}</ref>
Ann Coulter focuses on Genesis 1:27-28 which gives dominion to humanity over nature. Ann Coulter claims: "God gave us the earth. We have dominion over the plants, the animals, the trees. God said, 'Earth is yours. Take it. Rape it. It's yours.'"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ann_Coulter#Environmentalism|title=Ann Coulter - Wikiquote|website=en.wikiquote.org}}</ref> Lynn White (1967) implies that this is a common view among Christians, but the accuracy of this statement is debatable.
==See also== {{Portal|Christianity|Environment|Global warming|Renewable energy}} * Anthropogenic hazard * Christian views on environmentalism#Evangelical churches * Cornwall Alliance * Bill Moyers * Public opinion on global warming * ''The Green Bible''
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==Further reading== *Allen, R. S., E. Castano, and P. D. Allen. 2007. "Conservatism and concern for the environment". ''Quarterly Journal of Ideology'' 30(3/4):1–25. *Brown, Edward R. 2008. ''Our Father's World: Mobilizing the Church to Care for Creation'' (InterVarsity Press). *Guth, J. L., J. C. Green, L. A. Kellstedt, and C. E. Smidt. 1995. "Faith and the environment: religious beliefs and attitudes on environmental policy". ''American Journal of Political Science'' 39:364–382. *Konisky, D. M., J. Milyo, and L. E. Richardson, Jr. 2008. "Environmental policy attitudes: issues, geographic scale, and political trust". ''Social Science Quarterly'' 89:1066–1085. *McCright, A. M., and R. E. Dunlap. 2003. "Defeating Kyoto: the conservative movement's impact on U.S. climate change policy". ''Social Problems'' 50:348–373. *Merritt, Jonathan (2010) ''Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet'' {{ISBN|978-0-446-55725-2}} *Peterson, M. N., and J. Liu. 2008. "Impacts of religion on environmental worldviews: the Teton Valley case". ''Society and Natural Resources'' 21:704–718. *Schultz, P. W., L. Zelezny, and N. J. Dalrymple. 2000. "A multinational perspective on the relation between Judeo-Christian religious beliefs and attitudes of environmental concern". ''Environment and Behavior'' 32:576–591. *Sherkat, D. E., and C. G. Ellison. 2007. "Structuring the religion-environment connection: identifying religious influences on environmental concern and activism". ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'' 46:71–85. *Snyder, Howard A., and Joel Scandrett. 2011. ''Salvation Means Creation Healed: The Ecology of Sin and Grace'' (Cascade Books). *Wilkinson, Katharine K. 2012. ''Between God & Green: How Evangelicals Are Cultivating a Middle Ground on Climate Change'' (Oxford University Press).
== External links == *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2i_bSvLKh4 Katharine Hayhoe: Climate Change, Christianity, and Evangelicals]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evangelical Environmentalism}} Category:Environmentalism in the United States Category:Evangelicalism Category:Christianity and environmentalism Category:Christian terminology Category:Environmental movements