When the last is actually the first: Locating climate concern and action in African religious leaders’ finite pool of worry

Abstract

Religious leaders in Africa worry and play vital roles in addressing social issues. However, research and selected religious communiqués indicate that they are more concerned about other social issues than they are about climate change and the need for action. Unlike previous scholarly efforts and policy analysis, this study contends that, considering the significant threat of climate change and its complex connections with other social issues, religious leaders ought to give priority to climate concern and action. In doing so, religious leaders can effectively tackle interconnected problems and formulate comprehensive solutions that generate broad positive impacts across the continent. This study, however, does not suggest solely focusing on climate change, as that would exhibit biases. Instead, the study suggests that it would be prudent to allocate sufficient attention and resources to addressing climate change while also maintaining commitments to sustainably addressing other social issues in Africa.