Faith perspectives on human-nature relationships, sustainability and well-being in cities.

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation is one of the greatest sustainability challenges facing the planet. With an extra 2.5 billion people projected to live in cities by 2050 and 60% of this urban land yet to be developed, it is essential to understand human-nature relationships in cities and how these correspond with notions of sustainability and well-being. This presentation will explore the role of nature in achieving SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) through the lens of faith traditions. Religious perspectives are increasingly recognised as vital to conservation (Hitzhusen & Tucker, 2013), not least because 84% of the global population identify with a religious faith. First, the emerging concept of ‘relational values’ for nature (see Chan et al., 2016) will be explicated in an urban context. Second, notions of well-being rooted in religious thought will be introduced (e.g. shalom, saleem). Finally, results from interviews with religious leaders of different faiths and nationalities will be presented on the themes of (i) how ideas of nature and urban are conceptualised, and (i) the role of nature in sustainable cities. Findings reveal a range of perspectives on what is deemed ‘natural’ in an urban setting. Further, while a variety of theological arguments are presented, there appeared to be a broad consensus that environmental integrity is related to well-being. These insights position religion as a potentially powerful influence in shaping sustainable and biologically-diverse cities and towns, with broad implications for human and planetary well-being.

1. Hitzhusen GE, Tucker ME. 2013. The potential of religion for Earth Stewardship. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 11:368–376.

2. Chan KMA et al. 2016. Why protect nature? Rethinking values and the environment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113:1462–1465.