From apocalyptic theologies to “God is in control” narratives, religious beliefs shape how billions understand climate change, and whether they act on it. This article traces how faith-based fatalism, organised denial networks, and religiously charged disinformation obstruct climate action across continents, while counter-movements within the same traditions reclaim religious authority to demand it.
The world appears to be unraveling at the seams, and there is a need to pierce the veil of ideology so as to render these conspiracies less influential, to deal in the world of the real. There would seemingly be no panacea for these multi-faceted crises, but a good place to start would be our political-economy.
TNGO launches the Observatory on Climate Misinformation at COP29, an innovative and research-driven initiative, supported by Rethinking Climate, that promises more transparency and reliability in climate communication to enhance effective climate responses and actions.
