Religion and Climate Change Project Team’s Contribution to Climate and Energy Day - October 3, 2024

On October 3, 2024, team members Caroline Vander Stichele and Deborah de Koning from the Religion and Climate Change Project actively participated in Tilburg University's Climate and Energy Day, enriching the event with unique perspectives on the intersections of religious discourse, environmental activism, and energy transition.

Caroline Vander Stichele’s presentation, titled “Between Fear and Hope: Discourses on Climate Change,” explored how religious narratives shape public perception and emotional response to climate issues in the Netherlands. Caroline discussed the dual roles of these vocabularies in generating fear to mobilize action while also fostering hope to encourage resilience. Her insights raised an essential question about the potential of religious discourses to reduce resistance and inspire sustainable change.

Deborah de Koning’s poster, presented during the lunch session, examined the potent imagery of the Earth as a mother figure in climate activism. She highlighted three significant representations among activists: the Earth as a female body, a globe on fire, and as a symbol of sexual exploitation. Deborah noted how this portrayal underscores the ethical dimensions in the energy transition debate, questioning whether it simply shifts from one exploitative method to another.

These contributions by the Religion and Climate Change team brought new dimensions to the discussions at Climate and Energy Day, shedding light on the critical role of cultural and religious narratives in the broader discourse on environmental responsibility and sustainable energy use.

For more about the event, visit Climate and Energy Day 2024.

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