Paper short abstract:

Despite policy calls to engage development theory and practice with religious traditions, there is little exploration about the how of this engagement. The paper critically discusses different strategies and methods of engagement using case studies in relation to Catholicism and climate change.

Paper long abstract:

The literature on religion and development has blossomed over the last decade. Religion is no longer the neglected or forgotten dimension in both development theory and practice. Partnerships between faith communities and international institutions and governments have also multiplied. Calls for engagement between secular and religious institutions are often heard in academic and policy circles. Yet, there remains little documentation and critical analysis of how such engagement is actually taking place in the practice, on which conceptual ground it is based, and whether some strategies and methodologies of engagement are more desirable than others. The paper seeks to address this in relation to SDGs 12-13 and the Catholic Church.

After overviewing current academic and policy discourses about the engagement of development and religious traditions, the paper argues for approaching the question of engagement on the basis of two case studies, from Colombia and Ethiopia. It analyses different methods and strategies of engagement in the context of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns (SDG 12) and taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (SDG 13), and the Catholic religious tradition. Borrowing from Sen's capability approach to development, the paper concludes by outlining some major components of a fruitful and effective engagement, and some implications for faith-based organisations in the UK.