It's not just the Pope who is openly worried about climate change. In the last few months, leaders from almost all major religions have demanded a decisive deal at the UN climate conference later this year.

Religious leaders from Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and an inter-faith group have issued declarations stressing the need to limit emissions, and how much is at stake if that doesn't happen. A Hindu declaration is expected soon.

There is, of course, good reason to worry. The UN climate conference at Paris, called Conference of Parties (CoP) 21, is widely considered to be the most important climate conference so far.

It hopes to get countries to agree to limit emissions enough to keep global temperature rise under 2 degrees Celsius.

Crossing this limit would cause sea levels to rise (submerging several island nations and coastal areas), increase the frequency of storms, droughts and floods, and spell doom for humans and several other species.

In these declarations, religions have framed the climate problem based on their theology. They have used holy texts to highlight the role of believers in making a change.

Dwindling hope in traditional policy

Bridging religion with environmental concerns in not new. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, a United Nations recognised body, has been highlighting the role of sacred sites in conservation. Such sites are common in the Indian subcontinent as sacred groves or as natural areas around shrines.