The Philosophy of Land as Sacred: Climate Change and Its Impact on Faith
For the people of the Pacific Islands, land is more than a physical space; it is a spiritual connection, a source of identity, and a sacred trust passed down through generations. Unlike Western notions of land as a commodity to be owned and exploited, Pacific philosophies view land as communal and sacred, tied to ancestry and religious practices. However, the existential threat of climate change, particularly rising sea levels, poses a grave danger to these communities. This article explores how the sacred philosophy of land shapes Pacific Island political action and informs legal advocacy for climate justice. Rising sea levels not only threaten the physical survival of islands but also imperil the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Pacific. As sacred sites and religious practices become increasingly vulnerable, Pacific Island nations frame climate justice as a moral and spiritual obligation. Through political advocacy and legal efforts, these communities are calling on the global community to address the profound implications of climate change on their dignity and identity.
Land as Sacred in Pacific Philosophies
Pacific Island cultures are deeply rooted in a philosophy that views land as sacred. In Fijian tradition, for example, land (known as vanua) represents a collective identity that ties individuals to their ancestors, their community, and their spiritual obligations. This philosophy is echoed across the region, from Polynesia's marae to Micronesia's malae. Religious practices reinforce the sacredness of the land. Sacred sites, such as burial grounds, temples, and ceremonial spaces, are seen as places where the divine and the earthly intersect. These sites are not merely locations but are central to the spiritual and cultural life of the community. As theologian Vincent Torralba writes, “The Pacific worldviews reject the Western commodification of land; instead, land embodies the people’s history, identity, and spiritual commitments” (Torralba, Pacific Theologies, 2021). The philosophical divergence between Pacific and Western views of land creates unique challenges in addressing climate change. While Western frameworks often prioritize economic impacts, Pacific communities emphasize the cultural and spiritual losses of environmental degradation.
The Impact of Rising Seas on Sacred Spaces
The effects of climate change are acutely felt in the Pacific Islands. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that sea levels could rise by up to one meter by 2100, threatening the very existence of low-lying atolls such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands (IPCC, Sixth Assessment Report, 2021). These rising waters jeopardize homes, infrastructure, and sacred sites integral to religious and cultural practices. In Tuvalu, entire islands risk submersion, erasing generations of ancestral burial grounds and ceremonial sites. For Pacific Islanders, this loss is not merely physical but spiritual. Rituals tied to specific locations, such as seasonal blessings or harvest ceremonies, are rendered impossible when the land disappears. As one community leader from Kiribati remarked, “Our ancestors live in this land. When the land is gone, so too are the spirits of our people” (UN Human Rights Council, 2023). The displacement of communities also threatens cultural and religious continuity. Forced migration disrupts traditional practices and separates communities from their sacred geography. Studies have shown displaced Pacific Islanders experience profound spiritual dislocation, as their faith traditions often rely on geographically bound rituals (Connors et al., Climate and Culture, 2022).
Political Action Rooted in Spiritual Responsibility
Pacific Island leaders have drawn on the philosophy of land as sacred to advocate for climate justice on the global stage. The “Talanoa Dialogue,” a Pacific framework for inclusive storytelling and consensus-building, was adopted at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to center indigenous values in international negotiations (UNFCCC, 2018). This approach underscores the Pacific belief that protecting the land is a moral responsibility, not just an economic imperative. Leaders such as Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama have invoked the sacredness of land in their appeals for stronger climate action. At COP26, Bainimarama stated, “Our connection to the land is not a matter of ownership; it is a matter of existence. To lose our land is to lose our soul” (Bainimarama, COP26 Speech, 2021). This framing shifts the narrative from one of economic compensation to one of spiritual and cultural preservation. Grassroots movements also reflect this philosophy. In the Marshall Islands, youth groups have mobilized around jikin ak (sacred places), advocating for local and international policies to protect vulnerable sites from rising seas (Marshallese Environmental Network, 2022).
Legal Advocacy for Climate Justice
Pacific Island nations are leveraging international law to address the existential threat of climate change. A landmark effort involves seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the obligations of states to prevent climate-related harm, framed as a matter of human rights and cultural preservation. This initiative, led by Vanuatu and supported by other Pacific nations, argues that climate change infringes on the right to culture, religion, and identity (Vanuatu Climate Action Network, 2023). Legal frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are also employed to address the loss of maritime boundaries caused by rising seas. Pacific nations have called for amendments to UNCLOS to ensure that their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) remain intact even as coastlines recede (Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, 2022). Reparations for climate-induced displacement are another area of legal advocacy. Pacific leaders have proposed frameworks for compensating communities for the loss of sacred lands and cultural heritage, drawing on principles of restorative justice rooted in their philosophical traditions.
A Call for Global Ethical Action
The plight of the Pacific Islands stands as a profound moral challenge to the international community. While climate change is often framed in terms of economics or emissions reduction, Pacific Island nations offer a different lens grounded in ethics, spirituality, and human dignity. Addressing their concerns demands more than technical fixes; it requires a reevaluation of global priorities and a shift toward a values-based approach to climate action. The concept of climate justice must evolve to incorporate the unique challenges Pacific Islanders face. Rising sea levels do not merely displace people — they sever connections to sacred lands, undermine cultural heritage, and disrupt religious practices. These impacts strike at the heart of human dignity and challenge the world to recognize that climate justice protects identity and rights, not just livelihoods. Philosopher Mary Robinson emphasizes that “climate justice is about putting people at the center of solutions” (Robinson, Climate Justice and Human Rights, 2021). For Pacific Islanders, these solutions must honor their sacred relationship with the land.
The Pacific philosophy of stewardship, rooted in ancestral and spiritual connections to the land, provides a critical framework for addressing the ethical dimensions of climate change. Global policymakers can learn from the concept of vanua in Fiji, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of people, land, and the divine. By integrating these values into international agreements, such as the Paris Accord, the global community can better address the holistic impacts of climate change. One example of this integration is the “Talanoa Dialogue,” adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to incorporate indigenous perspectives into climate negotiations. This storytelling-based approach prioritizes empathy, respect, and collective action, reflecting the Pacific belief that solutions must be inclusive and morally grounded (UNFCCC, Talanoa Dialogue Report, 2018).
Reparations for climate-induced loss and damage have emerged as a critical demand from Pacific nations. These reparations go beyond financial compensation, seeking to address the cultural and spiritual losses caused by environmental destruction. Pacific leaders argue that major polluting nations, responsible for a disproportionate share of global emissions, have a moral obligation to support vulnerable communities through climate reparations. At COP27, establishing a Loss and Damage Fund marked a significant step in acknowledging this responsibility. However, Pacific nations continue to advocate for reparations frameworks that explicitly recognize the loss of sacred lands and cultural heritage. As Vanuatu’s Ambassador Odo Tevi stated, “Reparations must be about restoring dignity, not just rebuilding infrastructure” (Tevi, COP27 Address, 2023).
Pacific Island nations also face the challenge of maintaining sovereignty in the face of external interventions. As climate change accelerates, international aid and relocation efforts must respect these communities' autonomy and cultural integrity. The relocation of Kiribati residents to Fiji, for instance, raised ethical questions about whether displaced communities can retain their cultural identity and religious practices in a foreign land. Legal frameworks, such as those under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), provide a foundation for ensuring that Pacific Islanders retain sovereignty over decisions affecting their land and culture. By strengthening these frameworks, the international community can uphold the dignity and self-determination of Pacific peoples.
The philosophy of land as sacred compels the world to take stronger action on climate change. This is not just an environmental issue but a moral and spiritual one that demands a collective response. Pacific Island leaders have consistently called for bolder commitments to reduce emissions, implement adaptation strategies, and provide support for the most vulnerable. These calls are grounded in a vision of shared humanity and intergenerational responsibility. As former President Anote Tong of Kiribati stated, “The fight against climate change is not just about saving our islands. It is about saving our shared humanity” (Tong, Pacific Climate Advocacy, 2020). This ethical appeal challenges the global community to act not out of self-interest but out of a deep sense of justice and solidarity.
Pacific of Philosophy
The philosophy of land as sacred is central to understanding the Pacific response to climate change. As rising seas threaten not only the physical existence of islands but also their peoples' spiritual and cultural identity, Pacific communities are advocating for climate justice as a moral and spiritual imperative. Through political action and legal advocacy, they call on the world to honor the dignity of their traditions and protect the sacred connection to their land. The Pacific Islands are not just victims of climate change but also powerful voices of wisdom and resilience. Their fight for justice reminds the global community that preserving the earth is an environmental necessity and a sacred responsibility.
Works Cited
Bainimarama, Frank. “Speech at COP26.” 2021.
Connors, Patrick, et al. Climate and Culture. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Sixth Assessment Report. Geneva: IPCC, 2021.
Marshallese Environmental Network. “Protecting Jikin Ak.” 2022.
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. UNCLOS Amendments for Climate Justice. 2022.
Torralba, Vincent. Pacific Theologies: Faith, Land, and Climate Change. Honolulu: Pacific Press, 2021.
United Nations Human Rights Council. “Climate Change and Cultural Rights.” 2023.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Talanoa Dialogue Report. 2018.
Vanuatu Climate Action Network. “ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change.” 2023.
