British Hindus engage in most eco-friendly actions of all faith groups, research shows

Belief in God’s role in environmental care varies by religion, influencing levels of eco-friendly action.

A new study by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) 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. Researchers then conducted in-depth interviews to further examine the findings.

The results show that British Hindus are the most engaged in environmental activism, with 64% involved in rewilding, 78% adjusting their consumer habits for sustainability, and 44% participating in environmental groups.

“Hinduism’s belief in the interconnectedness of all life fosters a strong environmental ethic, where nature is seen as sacred rather than merely a resource. The idea that God exists in everything reinforces a deep sense of responsibility for conservation,” explained Amanda Murjan, a research associate at the IIFL.

While the majority of Muslims (92%) and Christians (82%) believe their faith calls them to protect the environment, this does not always translate into action. The study also highlighted key theological differences between the two monotheistic religions.

“It's interesting to see how theology shapes both the responsibility for the Earth and the motivation to act. Muslims expressed the highest belief in their duty to care for creation, followed closely by Christians. However, Christians’ belief that the Earth will ultimately be restored was linked to lower levels of environmental engagement,” said Charlotte Littlewood, IIFL’s director of research.

Muslims view environmental stewardship as a divine duty, with 92% acknowledging their religious obligation to protect the planet. However, fewer Muslims (27%) than Hindus (50%) and Christians (42%) believed that concern over the climate crisis is unnecessary because God will ultimately restore the world.

The study also revealed that while 82% of Christians believe their faith calls for environmental stewardship, they reported the lowest levels of environmental action. Additionally, 31% of Christians denied climate change, the highest proportion among all faith groups.

Although religious individuals feel a responsibility to care for the Earth, their actual environmental behaviors do not significantly differ from those without faith. The report suggests that non-religious individuals were more likely to vote based on environmental policies, and concern about the climate crisis was almost identical between faith (70%) and non-faith (71%) groups.

The research also highlighted a generational gap, with 46% of 18- to 24-year-olds with faith viewing God as an environmentalist, compared to only 17% of those aged 65 and over.

The Guardian spoke to British Hindus, Muslims, and Christians to explore how they reconcile their faith with environmental concerns.

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 speak for all Hindus, 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 gods and deities, or even sacred snakes—I've seen people in India stop their cars when a snake crossed the road and wait for it to pass. Some even prayed because that's part of their belief.

“Hinduism teaches karma: what we do in this life impacts the next through reincarnation. Doing good deeds helps erase bad karma and ensures a better next life.

“I avoid using plastic and make sure my products are eco-friendly. I've started switching to eco-friendly makeup options, but I do it slowly as I finish what I have to reduce waste. Small changes in how we live or think can make a difference. My friends and I talk about eco-friendly products and recommend them to each other. Younger people, especially Gen Z, are more environmentally conscious than when I was younger. They even ask about a company's carbon footprint during job interviews.

“I recently read that the environment reflects our human body. For example, the trunk of a tree is similar to our fingerprints. Many aspects of nature reflect our bodies. Everything is interconnected, and that’s the core of Hinduism – we are part of the ecosystem, and we should act in ways that honor 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 largely stems from a lack of awareness and understanding of how to put it into practice. While many people can link their religion to environmental care and stewardship, without clear paths to act on that connection, the knowledge remains unused.

Our research found that people are eager to contribute but need structured opportunities, such as climate programs at mosques, community cleanups, or planting workshops. They simply want these initiatives to take place.

I’ve been working to get mosques involved directly because many people are more likely to engage if the message comes from an imam or scholar. I witnessed this firsthand a couple of months ago, when an imam spoke about water conservation in the context of wudu (ablution), asking, “How much waste are you making? How are you thinking about it?” He connected this reflection to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, who said that there is waste even in doing wudu in a running stream.

Elizabeth Edwards, 25-year-old Christian, English teacher and special education needs coordinator

In Genesis 2:15, it says that the Lord God placed man in the Garden of Eden to care for it. And in Genesis, God gives us dominion over the Earth, with the responsibility to look after it. Before sin entered the world, Adam was tasked with caring for the environment. We are meant to be stewards.

As Christians, we are placed here to reflect Christ-like behavior, which includes caring for the environment that God has entrusted to us. This is a way to honor God’s creation.

The Bible tells us that our body is a temple, and we are expected to take care of it. In the same way, God has given us the Earth to protect and manage.

I’m adopting green practices, like using renewable energy and reducing waste. My husband and I are even working on getting an allotment to grow our own vegetables.

I believe our mindset needs to shift. If more Christians were educated about the environment, it could lead to changes like transitioning to renewable energy or choosing to cycle or walk instead of driving.

The gap between environmental commitment and action exists because of a lack of education. While church services focus on spiritual matters, there's little emphasis on environmental issues. On Sundays, we often hear messages about getting right with the Lord and living in the last days, but there's little focus on making an impact on the environment while we’re here.

Source: The Guardian