The Role of the Church in Promoting Climate Justice: A Theological Reflection on Environmental Sustainability and Food Security

Abstract

The problem of climate change and its consequences are among the serious issues for humanity today. Environmental degradation, the leading cause of climate change, is growing at a jet-like pace. In efforts to produce food and create wealth, Africans are forced to exploit nature, which has far-reaching consequences for communities. Climate change leads to powerlessness and vulnerability in African communities, further leading to chronic hunger and abject poverty. Food security, which means the availability of quality and sufficient quantity of food to all people all the time, is one of the fundamental human rights. Regrettably, today, more than 800 million people, mainly Africans, suffer from chronic hunger. Environmental degradation has not been adequately addressed, and there is a remarkable disconnection between the Christian Faith, food security and environmental sustainability. The techniques used for food production are not driven by biblical principles and ethical values, which are environmentally friendly. Land reclamation, destructive farming techniques, irrational application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and lack of awareness and willingness for environmental protection are some of the issues experienced in many African Christian communities. In this regard, this paper proposes an ethical and biblical-based model for food production that is environmentally friendly and promotes human holistic well-being in Africa. The methodology used in this article is Pastoral Circle, which involves four steps: Contact/ Insertion, Social Analysis, Theological Reflection and Pastoral Action. These steps allow interaction with communities to analyze what communities are experiencing together through guided observations and some literature reviews. The study calls for the discovery of the biblical principle of the sacredness of the whole creation, the interconnectivity and interdependence between humanity and the rest of creation, as they are all created by God for a purpose.