The Role of Religion in Building Resilience to Climate Change in Pakistan

Climate change refers to the long-term changes in the average temperature and weather patterns of the Earth's atmosphere, primarily caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. These activities release greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere, trapping heat and causing the Earth's temperature to rise. This warming leads to a variety of impacts on the planet, including rising sea levels, more extreme weather events, and changes to ecosystems and the distribution of plant and animal species. Climate change is a global phenomenon that has the potential to cause significant economic, social and ecological disruptions.This research aims to investigate how religion can help strengthen the Pakistani communities' ability to deal with climate change. The objectives include evaluating the role religious beliefs and practices play in assisting people in responding to climate change, exploring any factors that could hinder or advance these efforts, examining what kind of interventions using religious teachings and values are effective for creating resilience against climate change, looking into the potential collaboration between different faiths on building up resistance to climate change and finding out what areas need more study on this topic. The research design uses a mixed-methods approach, with qualitative data collected through semi- structured interviews with religious leaders, community members, and experts on climate change and religion in Pakistan. Quantitative data is collected through surveys distributed to a sample of individuals from religious communities in Pakistan. The sampling for the qualitative data is purposive, with participants selected based on their expertise or experience related to the topic of the study. The sample for the quantitative data is random, with individuals selected through stratified sampling to ensure representation from different religious communities and regions in Pakistan. The study may find that religious beliefs and practices play a significant role in shaping perceptions of and responses to the impacts of climate change in Pakistan. It could uncover best practices for incorporating religious teachings and values into Pakistan's climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. The research may find that faith-based organizations have the potential to play a significant role in building community resilience to climate change in Pakistan. The study could identify the barriers and facilitators of religious communities' engagement in climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in Pakistan. The study may reveal the intersectionality between religious beliefs, culture, and gender in shaping resilience to climate change in Pakistan. The findings of this study suggest that incorporating religious teachings and values into climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in Pakistan could be an effective way to build resilience to climate change in communities. Leveraging the resources and networks of faith-based organizations in building community resilience to climate change in Pakistan is crucial. Interfaith collaboration could be an effective approach to building resilience to climate change in Pakistan. Religious leaders have a crucial role to play in raising awareness about climate change and promoting sustainable practices in Pakistan. The development of interventions that use religious teachings and values to promote climate change resilience in Pakistan should be considered. The conclusion of the study is that the role of religion in building resilience to climate change in Pakistan is complex and multifaceted. The study recommends that policymakers and community leaders take into account the intersectionality of religious beliefs, culture, and gender when developing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in Pakistan.The paper was presented at International Conference on Sustainable Development in Pakistan: Exploring Local Discourses and Seeking Solutions 14-15 March, 2023 University of Home Economics, Lahor