Religion: an integral part of determining and reducing the climate change and disaster risk agenda

The document argues that religious beliefs can both increase and decrease vulnerability to climate change and disaster risks. Using a case study from El Salvador, it demonstrates that faith influences how people perceive hazards like floods and droughts and determines whether they adopt preventive measures. The author notes that while religion can improve the lives of the poor, certain interpretations of disasters may hinder sustainable development, highlighting a gap in policy guidance for integrating belief systems into adaptation and risk reduction programmes.

• Religious beliefs can act as a double-edged sword, contributing to both the determination and the reduction of vulnerability regarding disaster risk and climate change.
• In El Salvador, religious beliefs shape how floods and droughts are perceived and dictate the subsequent reactions and the implementation of preparedness or preventive measures.
• There is a lack of existing research that provides actionable guidance for policymakers on incorporating belief systems into the design of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2010). Religion: an integral part of determining and reducing the climate change and disaster risk agenda. https://www.sei.org/publications/religion-integral-part-determining-reducing-climate-change-disaster-risk-agenda-research/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Religion: an integral part of determining and reducing the climate change and disaster risk agenda. 2010. https://www.sei.org/publications/religion-integral-part-determining-reducing-climate-change-disaster-risk-agenda-research/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Religion: an integral part of determining and reducing the climate change and disaster risk agenda |date=16 December 2010 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/religion-integral-part-determining-reducing-climate-change-disaster-risk-agenda-research/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2010religion, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Religion: an integral part of determining and reducing the climate change and disaster risk agenda}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2010}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/religion-integral-part-determining-reducing-climate-change-disaster-risk-agenda-research/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }