The Evangelical Christians Taking On Climate Change

In public opinion polls, one group of Americans stand out, telling researchers they are particularly skeptical about climate change: white Evangelical Christians. That skepticism has had a major influence on American politics and policy. So how do we bring more people of faith into the climate movement? We talk to a Christian climate scientist about how she became a climate skeptic whisperer, by convincing others not only that climate change is real, but that taking action should be central to their faith. We also talk to a young Evangelical who shares what it’s like to come to believe in climate change...and have to tell your parents.

Guests: Katharine Hayhoe, Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, Abigail Zoccola

Calls to Action

• If you’re a Christian listener and you want to bring the conversation about climate change to your church, check out these resources and a bible study from YECA, as well as Katharine Hayhoe’s website
• Check out Katharine Hayhoe’s new book, Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World
• Abigail recommends reading Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home by Pope Francis, and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Check out our episode Trying to Talk to Your Family About Climate Change? Here’s How. for tips on having conversations with people you disagree with

Check out our Calls to Action archive for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. Sign up for our newsletter here. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

This episode of How to Save a Planet was produced by Anna Ladd. The rest of our reporting and producing team includes Kendra Pierre-Louis, Rachel Waldholz, and Hannah Chinn. Our supervising producer is Lauren Silverman. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Our intern is Nicole Welch. Sound design and mixing by Peter Leonard and Lonnie Ro with original music from Emma Munger. Our fact checker for this episode was James Gaines. Special thanks to Kyle Meyaard-Schaap and Tori Goebel.

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