Mother Earth, Indigenous Spirituality and Ubuntu: Ideas for Meeting Contemporary Environmental Challenges

Scholarship continues to deliberate on the various facets of Ubuntu. There are some scholars who have defined the concept, others have explored its origins, while others have argued for the relevance of Ubuntu in education and dealing with corruption. Current scholarship grapples with the possibility of Ubuntu in fostering sustainable economic development. There are also some scholars who argue that Ubuntu is an old solution to new problems. This wave of scholarship argues that its principles can foster self-policing that helps in curbing corruption, nourish education graduates and foster more equitable gender relations. Less explored is the possibility of the philosophy of Ubuntu in fostering a positive environmental ethic. This is despite the fact that positive environmental ethic is fast becoming number one priority globally, as fostered in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A close analysis of the list of SDGs reveals that the climate mitigation and adaptation discourse is now topical and scholarship can no longer continue ignoring it. This chapter highlights how Ubuntu can contribute towards conservation of the environment and securing sustainable development.