Role Of Religious Studies In Environmental Resource Management For Mitigation Of Climate Change Toward Realization Of Vision 2030

Abstract

Attainment of Kenyan Vision 2030 heavily depends on climate-sensitive sectors, including agriculture, tourism and coastal zones. On the flipside, major rapid industrialization developments and urbanization anticipated to occur will affect pollution levels and generate larger quantities of solid waste, which will require effective disposal management. Kenya must begin climate change awareness creation to combat pollution and waste accumulation to ensure sustainable development. This effort demands greater resolve to use religious education’s socializing role to enforce the vision for the environment sector, which is “a nation living in a clean, secure and sustainable environment”. The present research was pegged on two theories: cognitive dissonance theory of attitude change, which states that inconsistencies between attitude and behaviour are uncomfortable, so people will change their attitudes to remove discomfort where dissonance is often removed by a shift in attitude, and the prior knowledge theory, which states that students who learn more at one level usually do better and are able to assimilate new knowledge at higher levels. Key findings were: Religious education that God placed man in the Garden of Eden to till and keep it at home; church and school are mirrors reflected by well kept environment is proved effective for attitude and behaviour change. Part of Kenyan culture is religious ‘notorious’ with over 75% population. Kenya should continue international efforts to promote sound environmental policies demonstrated by the country’s hosting of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters by domesticating them using her strength in religious education systematically to create awareness of environmental issues and responsibilities concerning climatic change, waste management and pollution prevention to implement environmental management policy.