Population Growth, Climate Change, and Judaism

How does population growth factor into the climate crisis, and what does Jewish teaching have to say about it? At the Interfaith Climate Change & Renewable Energy Conference in Jerusalem, Dr. Alon Tal, Chair of the Department of Public Policy at Tel Aviv University, tackles this often-sensitive intersection head-on. He explores the relationship between rising global population and its impact on climate change, while examining how Jewish teachings and values inform this complex conversation. Rather than treating population growth as a purely demographic or economic issue, Dr. Tal brings a thoughtful religious and ethical lens to the discussion, considering what Jewish tradition offers in terms of responsibility, resource stewardship, and long-term thinking about the planet’s capacity to sustain future generations. This talk adds an important and often underexplored dimension to the broader interfaith conversation on climate change. Viewers interested in exploring the deeper link between faith and climate action can also check out a related video on why spirituality is key to addressing the ecological crisis.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBm6z5-KK0w