Christian hope against climate change: Support for Green Deal 2.0

Christian hope against climate change: Support for Green Deal 2.0

The influence of Christian hope in the fight against climate change

at a time when climate change is becoming increasingly important, the role of religion is also being discussed in this struggle. The directors of the Evangelical Academies in East Germany exchanged information on this topic in their sixth technical discussion on democracy in election year 2024. The importance of Christian hope and motivation to fight climate change was emphasized.

The directors support the recommendation of the Federal Environment Office and the Federal Office for Nature Conservation for a “Green Deal 2.0”. This Green Deal is intended to aim to contain climate change and protect the environment. The joint recommendation is seen by the directors as the central project of the EU.

Sebastian Kranich, director of the Evangelical Academy of Thuringia, emphasized in this context that ecology should not be a question of party politics. He demanded that Christian-conservative, liberals, social democrats, the Greens and the left should continue to work together in order to advance the goals of zero pollution, the protection of biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.

Stephan Bickhardt, director of the Evangelical Academy of Saxony, referred to the biblical mission to preserve creation. He emphasized that Christian hope not only means adaptation to a changed world climate, but also includes motivation to fight climate change. In addition to technical innovations, an attitude of the "less is more" is of great importance.

Overall, the directors demand staying breath and decision -making of politics and civil society to combat climate change. The temptation for resignation must be resisted. It is about preventing a future in which large parts of the earth become uninhabitable. Climate protection is also a step towards sustainable prosperity and a more peaceful world.

As part of the election year 2024, the directors of the Evangelical Academies in East Germany will have a monthly technical discussions on democracy, in which scientists, media representatives and theologians are also invited. The aim is to discuss how to deal with anti -democratic social tendencies. The results of these discussions are published as common statements on democracy.