RELIGION AND RISK: THE CHALLENGE OF HARNESSING FAITH AND REDUCING EXPOSUREDr Lisa Schipper Stockholm Environment Institute – Bangkok, Thailandlisa.schipper@sei.se

London – 7 February 2008

Outline

Context Risk Religion Examples from the field Conclusions Questions for discussion

Context

‘People have always dealt with risk’ – but still not adapted: why? Is religion a limit to adaptation?

Technical terminology aside, people understand risk through a certain lens, influenced by their culture

Usually not included in studies because sensitive, complex

At IPCC Plenary (November 2007) scientists urged greater involvement of social scientists in the next assessment report particularly from behaviour-related fields

Risk

Threat resulting from combination of Hazard and Vulnerability to that Hazard:

R = H x V Reducing risk means:

Reducing causes of hazard (flood, drought, earthquake, cyclone)

Reducing causes of vulnerability (underlying factors that make people more exposed to specific hazard)

What is religion?

What is religion?

What is religion?

Religion

Shared conviction/set of principles

All forms of belief systems including spirituality, mysticism, divine faith expressed through formal, organised institutions as well as superstition, mythology and folktales

Centre around some form or forms of divinity

Religion

Influential (positive) Support and hope Structures social systems Provides social and cultural identity Prayer as a coping mechanism

Influential (negative) Divides people, cause of many wars

Climate change is already recognised by many religious groups

Where do they meet?

Strong link between religion and nature (divine creation, moral obligation to protect)

Belief systems have always been a way to explain biophysical processes, including extreme climate events (lack of scientific knowledge, world views)

Religion influences Perceptions of risk Attitudes about response Exposure to risk

El Salvador: Perceptions and Risk

Religion affects perceptions and attitudes

Evangelical Protestants and liberation theology Catholics

Difference in perception of risk, in attitude toward response

Deep roots in political history Religion can be harnessed to help

stimulate risk reduction, but only with Catholics

Ethiopia: Religious Duties and Risk

Religion affects exposure to risk

Orthodox Christians and Muslims Difference in crop loss between

two groups Orthodox Christians have many

more religious duties Muslims are not as badly

affected by crop loss Not as political, but affects

livelihoods seriously

Conclusions

Religion directly and indirectly affects risk Directly, because it influences

Perceptions of what a hazard represents Perceptions of exposure to a hazard Attitudes about reducing exposure

Indirectly, because it influences Time availability Livelihood choices Settlement location Social networks

Conclusions

Belief systems should be part of vulnerability and impact analyses

Will influence willingness to adapt – and limit adaptation, adaptive capacity

There are aspects that can be harnessed to raise awareness (where faith does not interfere)

More thinking required to understand options when religious view direct cause of vulnerability

Recommendations

Identify how belief systems are constructive/ unconstructive

Develop platform for dialogue with religious leaders and groups on climate change and disaster risk

Integrate such studies into IPCC and Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction process

Enhance dialogue with faith-based groups

Questions

Role of culture and/or belief systems in your research?

How was it manifest – constraint or benefit?

If constraint: how did you overcome? If benefit: how did you take advantage?