The Praxis of Being a Good Neighbour in a Time of Climate Change

In the geopolitics of climate change the low-lying islands of Tuvalu are a ‘weak actor’. They are often referred to as the ‘canary in the mine’ concerning the planet’s future in the midst of a superwicked problem. The islands are overwhelmingly Christian in profession: the default practice is to tur...

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Main Author: Maina Talia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/6/773
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author Maina Talia
author_facet Maina Talia
author_sort Maina Talia
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description In the geopolitics of climate change the low-lying islands of Tuvalu are a ‘weak actor’. They are often referred to as the ‘canary in the mine’ concerning the planet’s future in the midst of a superwicked problem. The islands are overwhelmingly Christian in profession: the default practice is to turn to the book of Job and Noah in seeking to understand their plight. They are seldom referred to in theological works beyond the ‘liquid continent’ of Oceania. There is no theological college on any one of these eight atolls and reef islands. In this kind of context the prospective theologian is likely to be a climate activist, a political figure and an advocate for indigenous knowledge. This coming together of formative influence leads to an embodied public theology that draws upon themes to do with what does it mean to be a good neighbour.
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spelling doaj-art-e31229463e044a7fb97b1a938580ca4a2025-08-20T03:27:32ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-06-0116677310.3390/rel16060773The Praxis of Being a Good Neighbour in a Time of Climate ChangeMaina Talia0Minister of Home Affairs, Climate Change and the Environment, Government of Tuvalu, Funafuti, TuvaluIn the geopolitics of climate change the low-lying islands of Tuvalu are a ‘weak actor’. They are often referred to as the ‘canary in the mine’ concerning the planet’s future in the midst of a superwicked problem. The islands are overwhelmingly Christian in profession: the default practice is to turn to the book of Job and Noah in seeking to understand their plight. They are seldom referred to in theological works beyond the ‘liquid continent’ of Oceania. There is no theological college on any one of these eight atolls and reef islands. In this kind of context the prospective theologian is likely to be a climate activist, a political figure and an advocate for indigenous knowledge. This coming together of formative influence leads to an embodied public theology that draws upon themes to do with what does it mean to be a good neighbour.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/6/773Tuvaluclimate changerising sea levelsSamaritanneighbourtheology
spellingShingle Maina Talia
The Praxis of Being a Good Neighbour in a Time of Climate Change
Religions
Tuvalu
climate change
rising sea levels
Samaritan
neighbour
theology
title The Praxis of Being a Good Neighbour in a Time of Climate Change
title_full The Praxis of Being a Good Neighbour in a Time of Climate Change
title_fullStr The Praxis of Being a Good Neighbour in a Time of Climate Change
title_full_unstemmed The Praxis of Being a Good Neighbour in a Time of Climate Change
title_short The Praxis of Being a Good Neighbour in a Time of Climate Change
title_sort praxis of being a good neighbour in a time of climate change
topic Tuvalu
climate change
rising sea levels
Samaritan
neighbour
theology
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/6/773
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