In the last few years, religion and the environment has become established as a fascinating new field of academic scholarship. It is increasingly recognized that we cannot fully understand a society’s interactions with its natural environment -- past or present -- without taking into account the religious beliefs and practices that shape its values and behavior.

And, as religious communities become more engaged with issues of environmental degradation and injustice, they are driven to deeper reflection on the conceptual dimensions of the resources and obstacles to environmental responsibility that lie within their own intellectual traditions.

Those working in educational and research institutions play many roles in deepening our response to this time of planetary crisis and opportunity:

• Scholars, teachers, and students seek to learn how the world works, and about what is right, making their schools, colleges, universities, and camps alive with wonder, curiosity, and love for this world.
• Scientists bring the public’s attention to the sometimes hidden wounds we are inflicting on creation.
• Students, impatient with their elders’ slowness to respond, call for change and initiate it themselves in their communities and on their campuses.

• Teachers and environmental educators in schools and camps nurture wonder and curiosity about the natural world in children, along with a sense of responsibility.
• Faculty, administrators, and physical plant managers find ways to make their own institutions more environmentally responsible in their purchasing, energy use, landscaping, and waste disposal practices.
• Religious scholars and educators explore the connections between faith and the environment, and the role of religious leadership in bringing about a more just and sustainable world.

Educators and scholars in many settings and from many perspectives and disciplines can contribute. Together, these teachers and learners help us all to find the wisdom and the knowledge for living rightly on this earth.

Schools:

• The Program Bank of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Live can be searched by the Religious/Day School category under “Facility” or by specific age ranges under “Target Audience.”
• The National Catholic Educational Association offers suggestions, resources, and links to help schools provide a healthy and safe environment for their staff and students.