April 03, 2020

070 Bahá'í Perspectives on Global Risks with Christine Muller

1 hour 2 minutes

What are the major risks for humankind today?

What are the conclusions of the Global Risk Report 2020 by the World Economic Forum?

What do the Baha'i teachings say about potential future risks?

What does this mean for us living in these critical times?

This is the first in a series of interactive "Bahá'í Conversations on Climate Change."

Other talks in the series are to be scheduled, and will include:

How Will Climate Change Affect All of Us?

Many people all over the world are already suffering or even dying because of the impacts of climate change such as heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, more extreme storms, floods, and sea-level rise. How does this affect our belief in the oneness of humankind, and how can this spiritual principle guide us in our actions to mitigate climate change?

Why is the Earth Warming and What Can We Do about it?

Knowing more about the causes of global warming and what can be done to slow it down empowers us for meaningful actions. It will also make us think more deeply about the meaning of justice, the “best beloved of all things”.

What Do Scientists Say Needs to Be Done to Avoid a Climate Catastrophe? - The Spiritual Challenge of Climate Change

What are the projections for the future? How urgent is the issue of climate change really? How quickly do we need to act? It is now a widely accepted view that knowledge about climate change is not sufficient for human behavioral change. How can the Baha'i teachings motivate and guide our actions?

The Interconnectedness of Climate Change with other Environmental and Social Problems

Climate Change cannot be solved in isolation. How can we alleviate poverty, feed increasing numbers of people, and bring the Earth's climate system back into balance? What can we Baha'is and other people of faith do to bring healing to the Earth and its peoples?

Christine Muller

I was interested in environmental issues already at a young age and became a Bahá’í when I was 17, which was the beginning of a life-long study of the Bahá’í Faith. As the environmental crisis was worsening, I began to systematically study climate change at a time when not much information was easily available. I also searched the Bahá’í teachings for a spiritual solution to the climate crisis. At that time, climate change was not known to most people and there were no educational materials available. That’s why I wrote Scientific and Spiritual Dimensions of Climate Change – an Interfaith Study Course, which the International Environment Forum posted in 2009. I served on the board of RI Interfaith Power&Light for nine years and currently serve on the board of the Bahá’í-inspired International Environment Forum (iefworld.org).

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