Egoism: the Spiritual Root of the Climate Crisis (UN Climate Change Conference)

What lies at the spiritual root of the climate crisis? In this talk delivered at the UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco, in November 2016, Rabbi Yonatan Neril points to a single, deeply human cause: egoism. He explores how self-centeredness — the prioritization of individual desire, comfort, and gain over collective wellbeing — underlies much of the environmental destruction humanity has caused. Rather than framing climate change as solely a technical or policy failure, Rabbi Neril reframes it as a spiritual crisis, rooted in humanity’s disconnection from humility, interdependence, and care for others. By naming egoism as the underlying driver, he suggests that meaningful climate solutions must go beyond external fixes and address this deeper inner transformation — cultivating values of selflessness, gratitude, and shared responsibility. Viewers interested in related themes from the 2016 UN Climate Summit can also check out a companion video on consumerism as a pseudo-religion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASL8S27jbbw&t=117s