Speaker

Arthur C. Petersen (Professor, University College London)

Title

Religion and Climate Change: Examples from the Science–Policy Interface: IPCC, The Netherlands, and Thailand

Abstract

There seems to be a disconnect between the domains of religion and science in policy discussions on climate change. How religion (religious beliefs, values, and institutions) is framed at the science–policy interface matters. This is especially the case when addressing the impacts of and adaptation to climate change for Indigenous lifeways. It will be shown, in the context of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), how worldviews and religion are crucial elements in addressing climate change. The intergovernmental negotiation process on knowledge about climate change, as organized through the IPCC, will be described. Particular attention will be paid to the way that the IPCC features religious, scientific, and political dimensions in the confrontation that plays out in this organization between Western science and non-modern cultures and worldviews. Bruno Latour’s philosophy will be used to shine a relevant light on the complexity of the various nature/culture constellations that play a role in this confrontation. The talk will feature examples of modern planning for dealing with climate change in the Netherlands and in the context of non-modern aspects, including in Thailand.

Short bio

Arthur C. Petersen is Professor of Science, Technology and Public Policy at University College London (UCL), Chief Scientific Adviser to the Dutch Delta Commissioner, and Editor-in-Chief of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. His publications include Climate, God and Uncertainty: A Transcendental Naturalistic Approach beyond Bruno Latour (2023).