New Delhi, Feb. 22 -- Dear Reader,

Last Sunday, religious leaders, climate thinktanks and the government of India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, got together for a rather unique event. On the sidelines of the ongoing Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, the largest religious gathering in the world, the discussion centred on the role of faith in combating the climate crisis.

Chandra Bhushan, CEO of the environment non-profit iForest, put it succinctly: religion and faith have immense power to influence society, and climate action cannot succeed unless it resonates culturally and emotionally with the masses. Faith leaders can do better on that count compared to scientists and policymakers.

And one religious leader, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, p...