What’s Buddhism got to do

with Climate Change?

Warning: This presentation contains

traces of reduced consumption

and free market scepticism

Engaged Buddhist climate

action goes against the grain.

Buddha worldview opposes notion

of seven billion independent, greedy

and competitive consumers on earth.

Engaged Buddhism asserts a

temporary, non-essential self

rather than self-as-centre-of-universe.

Alternative to conventional environmentalism

with allegiance to 19th century industrialisation.

Engaged Buddhist climate action

reduces earth’s burden, consumes

less and advocates for the welfare

of all beings including future generations.

Compulsion to ever increasing consumption is expression of same craving that the Buddha identified as a root cause of suffering.

Four noble truths or ‘actions’

provide framework for diagnosing

current situation and taking action.

Sustainable Buddhist economy

provides satisfactory standard

of living in harmony with the planet

“We are here to awaken from

the illusion of our separateness.”

(Thich Nhat Hanh)

What Can

YOU Do?

What Can     

YOU Do?

1.      Speak  Up

• Contact your state and Federal Members of parliament to call for action.

• Ask your workplace, local schools and organisations for climate action.

• Use social and traditional media to get the word out (eg write to the papers, call talkback, Facebook etc).

2. Reduce Your Consumption

i.Reduce or cut meat from your diet (esp. beef).

ii.Reduce or avoid air travel (esp. overseas).

iii.Switch to renewable energy at home (use GreenPower, solar PV, solar HW)

iv.Reduce car travel

3.      Use your money wisely

• Fossil fuel divestment means taking your money out of investments in fossil fuel including:

• Banks that lend to fossil fuel co’s (Big 4)

• Superannuation funds (nearly all of them)

• Shares, trusts, managed funds etc