Climate change is not just an environmental issue. It has far-reaching implications for our efforts to relieve poverty, to establish and maintain peace, and for the economy. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has said  “We are in trouble. We are in deep trouble with climate change." “It is hard to overstate the urgency of our situation. Even as we witness devastating climate impacts causing havoc across the world, we are still not doing enough, nor moving fast enough, to prevent irreversible and catastrophic climate disruption.”

Many climate-change related natural disasters such as more devastating storms, heat waves, droughts, and wildfires, as well as heavy downpours, floods, and mud slides have already caused much human suffering and economic loss. Many plant and animal species cannot survive the rising temperature, and the Earth's natural systems, on which humans depend, are at risk. Rising sea levels threaten low-lying coastal areas all over the world, including large coastal cities. Many millions of people will become refugees. The threat of climate change to us, our children and grandchildren is immense and its long-term consequences are unprecedented in human history. The people who suffer first and the most from the impacts of climate change are the poor, people of color, and indigenous people, while the rich people of the world are most responsible. Therefore, climate change is an issue of justice. At the same time, many people are confused, because climate change is a complex issue and because political and vested interests have shed false doubts about climate science.

This course on Climate Change provides a basic understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change, discusses its ethical challenges, and relates them to the spiritual teachings of the world’s religions, particularly those of the Baha’i Faith. It will help you consider changes in your lifestyle to bring greater coherence to your life and show you how to incorporate environmental and social responsibility in your community gatherings. It elevates public discourse above partisan politics by introducing spiritual responses to the climate crisis and demonstrates how the harmony of science and religion can be applied for the well-being of humankind.

The course, which is open to people of all, or no, religious backgrounds, includes many optional resources for those who wish to delve more deeply into climate-change issues.