Religious Ethics and the Environment: A Quest for Sustainable Development in the Modern World
S. Awoniyi

Abstract
The concept environmental degradation and sustainable development have come to occupy a central position in the contemporary discourse among scholars of various disciplines. However, little or no attention has been given to religious ethics in resolving the problem. Unfortunately, the world is still in a state of disarray, a state in which living organisms can no longer survive on their natural habitat because the biotic support has been damaged in the name of human, economic and social development .This sorry state of affair is majorly as a result of human encroachment into the natural resources. The impacts of unabated human activities in ecosystem have ensured removal of wildlife habitat, causing loss of nutrient rich soil and slow soil regeneration in the forest. Hence, sustainability of the ecosystem has been pushed to the periphery. Industrialization has equally maintained a record of environmental pollution; while generation of acid rain, also leads to constant reduction of wildlife population on account of reproductive failure. The paper, therefore, seeks to investigate and examine the basis and role of religion in the conservation of the natural resources and the purpose of commissioning by God. It gleans over the relevant religious tradition on the conservation of the environments and ecology. The paper inquires into the environmental values, causes of environmental degradation, impacts and challenges on human activities .Finally, viable suggestions are proffered.

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