Ecology is the study of the relationship of living organisms with each other and their surroundings in nature. Nature maintains an ecological balance amongst all the ecological systems and human beings are part of that whole ecosystem. By over exploiting natural resources human beings have created an imbalance resulting in the current situation whereby nature is not able to generate the resources at the rate they are being consumed.  This imbalance has created various problems of environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, water and food shortage etc.

Realising this as a moral and ethical issue, The Climate Institute (Australia) Ltd in 2006 invited various religious organisations in Australia to submit their views according to their faith on the problem of climate change facing the world community. The Hindu Council of Australia made its submission on Hinduism’s view on climate change. The Climate Institute published that document entitled “Common Belief – Australia’s Faith Communities on Climate Change”.

This marked the beginning of the involvement of the Hindu Council of Australia in the Climate Change movement. Its representatives have attended various interfaith conferences and forums on the subject and have made their contributions. Then on 2^nd October 2008 (Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday) the Hindu Council of Australia together with ARRCC (Australian Religious Response to Climate Change) Inc launched a campaign for observing “Meat-Free Day” to tackle the problems relating to climate change, global warming, cruelty to animals and human health. Since then Hindu Council is actively involved in addressing the climate change problem.

More information

Hindu Council Webpage – http://hinducouncil.com.au/ecology/

Hindu faith and ecology - http://bit.ly/1efCavm

Useful resources:

• Hindu Declaration on Climate Change at the World Parliament of Religions in 2009
• Ten Key Hindu Environmental Teachings, by Pankaj Jain
• What Hinduism teach us about ecology?
• Hinduism and ecology, Ranchor Prime
• Hinduism, Jainism and Ecology, by Christopher Key Chapple
• Hindu scriptures and ecology, by Vijai Singhal
• Hindu contributions to environmental protection, by Judge Weeramantry