Climate Change and Ecological Crisis in Zimbabwe: A Case for Jesus’ Ethics of the Kingdom of God
摘要
Climate change is not just an environmental challenge but a menace facing the world. Zimbabwe, just like many other countries in Africa, is extremely vulnerable and susceptible to the consequences of climate change despite short-term and long-term harnessing efforts put in place by various players. The effects of climate change on Zimbabwe in particular and Africa in general are manifesting in extreme weather conditions in the form of persistent droughts, floods and cyclones that have ravaged the lives of people. Such harsh weather conditions added to the already existing global challenges of poverty, insecurity and inequality put Zimbabwe in a dilemma. The players with varied expert backgrounds like academics, geographers, environmentalists, climate law practitioners, ecospecialists, civil society researchers, policymakers and climate negotiators have been deeply involved in harnessing climate change but the assignment is proving to be a mammoth one. This study argues that a lot can be tapped from religion which could serve as an antidote to the ravages of climate change and environmental ecological crisis in the country. Religion has a pivotal role to play in addressing the social, political, economic and ethical ills of society. In this case, then, Jesus’ ethics of the Kingdom of God as taught in the Gospels—Matthew, Luke, Mark and John—if taped prudently would address the ravages and savages of climate change and eco-crisis. Arguing from a Christo-centric approach, this article propounds that Jesus’ programmatic Kingdom of God ethic if taken with all the seriousness it deserves would serve as an antidote to climate change and ecological crisis in Zimbabwe, Africa and the world. This scenario has triggered an investigative scholarly interrogation of climate change and environmental ecological crisis in light of Jesus’ ethics of the Kingdom of God.