Can Religion Counteract the Damage Caused by Consumerism? (UN Climate Change Conference)
Consumerism has long been identified as a major driver of environmental damage, but can religion offer a genuine counterbalance to its destructive patterns? At the 2017 Climate Summit in Marrakesh, Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founder and director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, tackles this question directly, exploring how faith traditions can serve as a powerful antidote to the excess and waste driven by consumer culture. He examines how religious values — rooted in restraint, gratitude, and stewardship — stand in direct contrast to the endless acquisition promoted by consumerism, offering a spiritual framework capable of reshaping how individuals and communities relate to consumption. Delivered on the global stage of a UN Climate Summit, Rabbi Neril’s remarks underscore the growing recognition of religion’s role in addressing not just the symptoms of climate change, but its underlying cultural and economic drivers. Viewers interested in additional insights from the 2017 UN Climate Summit can also check out a related video on population growth.
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