Does belief in God make you more environmentally friendly? It depends on which God you believe in.
That’s the conclusion of new research by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), which found that British Hindus lead the way in environmental action compared with other faith groups.
The report surveyed Christians, Muslims, and Hindus – Britain’s three largest religious communities – to explore the relationship between faith and environmentalism. The researchers then conducted extensive interviews with participants of different faiths to delve deeper into the survey’s findings.
The results reveal that British Hindus are at the forefront of environmental activism, engaging in eco-friendly actions at higher rates than other faith groups. The study found that 64% of Hindus participate in rewilding, 78% actively change their consumer habits, and 44% join environmental groups.
“Hinduism’s emphasis on the interconnectedness of all existence fosters a deep-rooted environmental ethic, where nature is not merely a resource but a sacred entity. The belief that God is in everything connects humanity with all existence, reinforcing an intrinsic responsibility toward conservation,” said Amanda Murjan, a research associate at the IIFL.
While 92% of Muslims and 82% of Christians believe their faith obligates them to care for the environment, this does not always translate into action. The report also found key differences between the two monotheistic faiths.
“It is fascinating to observe how theology shapes both the sense of responsibility for the Earth and the urgency to act. While belief in God’s call to care for creation was highest among Muslims, closely followed by Christians, a key theological difference – Christians’ belief that the Earth will ultimately be restored – was linked to lower levels of environmental engagement,” said Charlotte Littlewood, the director of research at the IIFL.
Muslims see environmental stewardship as a duty given by God, with 92% believing their faith requires them to care for the Earth. Muslims were less likely (27%) than Hindus (50%) and Christians (42%) to believe there was no need to be too concerned about the climate crisis because God will restore the world.
The study also found that, while 82% of Christians believe their faith requires environmental stewardship, they reported the lowest levels of conservation action. The research also showed that 31% of Christians deny climate breakdown – the highest among faith groups.
Though religious people believe they are responsible for caring for the Earth, their actual environmental actions do not differ significantly from those without faith. The report suggests non-faith individuals were more likely than faith groups to vote based on environmental policies, and that concern about the climate emergency was nearly equal between faith (70%) and non-faith (71%) groups.
The research showed a significant generational difference, with 46% of 18- to 24-year-olds with faith more likely to see God as an environmentalist, compared with just 17% of those aged 65 and over.
The Guardian spoke to British Hindu, Muslim, and Christian participants to discuss the research and how they reconcile their faith with their environment.
Bansari Ruparel, 35 years old, British Hindu, office job
“Everything that revolves around Hinduism is usually around things for the environment or being kind and looking after our environment. Ayurveda, which is part of Hindu traditions and culture, is about how we use the environment for ourselves and our bodies and how it’s all linked. We don’t go and pluck flowers or leaves off trees after sunset because they start to go into their sleep or relax. Even when we do pluck flowers, we should ask in our heads, ‘Am I OK to pluck you?’
“I can’t talk for every Hindu, but most Hindus I know are doing something to help the environment, whether it’s being vegan for environmental reasons or respecting sacred animals like the cow, which is believed to represent all the gods and deities. Even snakes are sacred: I remember once in India, a snake came on to the road, and everyone stopped, got out of their cars, and waited until it passed. Some even prayed because that’s what they believe in.
“Hinduism is based on karma: what goes around comes around. Whatever we do in this life affects our next life because of reincarnation. Doing good wipes away bad karma and ensures a better next life.
“I don’t use a lot of plastic, and I make sure my products are environmentally sourced. I’ve started switching my makeup to eco-friendly options, but I do it gradually as I run out of things to avoid waste. Taking small steps to change the way you live or think makes a difference. Me and my friends talk about environmentally friendly products and recommend them to each other. Younger people, like gen Z, are more into environmentalism than when I was a kid. They even ask about a company’s carbon footprint in job interviews.
“I recently read somewhere that the environment is a reflection of our human body. For example, when you cut a tree, the trunk is similar to our fingerprints. Many things in nature reflect our bodies. It’s all interconnected, and that’s what Hinduism teaches us – to see ourselves as part of the ecosystem and to act in ways that honour that connection.”
Hashem Abdi, 27-year-old Muslim, founder of Somalis for Sustainability
“Islam’s perspective is pretty clear – it’s one that is around compassion, around care, and around thinking beyond yourself. A lot of what the hadiths of the prophet Muhammad focus on is thinking about people other than yourself. For example, the man who went to Jannah (heaven) just for picking up an obstacle from the road. That had nothing to do relatively with that person, it was more for making the Earth and the ground more habitable for people to come.
“Islam in and of itself is very consistent with how it wants people to interact with the environment. We’re told that even if the hour was upon us, we’re told to plant the tree. Not because we’re going to see the fruits of that tree, but just because in and of itself, it’s an act of care – it’s an act of compassion for the people to come after.
“The gap [between commitment to environmentalism and actions] comes primarily due to a lack of awareness and knowledge on how to implement it. So it’s a great first step that most people can connect their religion to environmentalism and stewardship. But if they’re not able to find pathways and avenues of executing that action, it just becomes like knowledge that’s just contained within them.
“Our own research found people wanted an avenue to be able to contribute back, so whether it was a climate programme in the mosque or a community clean up, or whether it was a planting workshop. They just wanted things to occur.
“Some of the work that I’ve been doing is trying to get mosques directly to engage with this because a lot of people will only take things if it comes from an imam or a scholar. I saw that happening for the first time a couple months ago. The imam was talking about water conservation in the concept of wudu (ablution); like how much waste are you making? How are you thinking about it? And he’s relating it back to the prophet Muhammad’s tradition, who said there is waste even in doing wudu in a running stream.”
Elizabeth Edwards, 25-year-old Christian, English teacher and special education needs coordinator
“If we go into Genesis 2:15, then the Lord God placed a man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. And if we go into Genesis, God’s given us dominion over the Earth to look after it. But if you look at Adam before the full sin came into the world, we were looking after the environment. We’re supposed to be stewards.
“We’re placed here to be an example to show Christ-like behaviour, so that involves looking after the environment that God’s given us. This is a way of us honouring God’s creation.
“The Bible lets us know that our body is a temple, so we’re supposed to look after our temple. It’s the same way that God’s given us the Earth to look after it, to be stewards of the Earth.
“I’m adopting green practices like renewable energy, trying to reduce my waste. Even in the process, my husband and I were trying to get an allotment to plant our own vegetables.
“I think that our mindset has to change. I feel like if some Christians were more educated, then it could result in them transitioning to renewable energy, or instead of driving they’d cycle or walk more.
“I think the gap exists [between commitment to environmentalism and actions] because there’s a lack of education about it. We go to church on Sunday, some people go in throughout the week, but there’s never a focus on what’s happening at present with the environment. On Sundays, we hear: ‘Get right with the Lord, we’re living in the last days. The things we’ve seen in revelation are coming to pass.’ But there’s never an emphasis that whilst you’re here, make an impact on the environment.”
