IU professor: Pope Francis shows religion and climate are interconnected

With the recent visit to the United States by Pope Francis, the connection of religion and climate change has been in the news a lot.

"Certainly, one can say religion has played a negative role," Haberman said, adding that many religious figures have denied climate change is occurring and have delayed any significant action in dealing with it. He cited the majority of American tea party members who deny climate change, and radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who stated that people can't believe in God and also in man-made global warming.

There is also the influential Cornwall Alliance, an evangelical public policy group, which denies climate change is problem and believes that policies to fight climate change will instead harm poor people around the world.

But, Haberman added, while many religious leaders deny climate change, there are also others urging action within religious communities and groups to deal with the issue. He cited the People's Climate March on Sept. 21, 2014, as one of the largest gatherings of about 400,000 people from different religious, economic and social backgrounds who came together to ask that more be done about climate change. The march participants had scientists marching alongside members of faith communities that included Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, pagans and "spiritual seekers."