Bharat, a land where dharma intertwines with daily life, has long stood as a beacon of spiritual wisdom. Its greatness is not measured by material wealth alone but by its unwavering connection to tradition, nature, and collective consciousness. From the sacred rivers that nurture its soil to the towering temples that echo with chants of devotion, every element of Bharat’s existence is steeped in meaning. Religion here is not just a set of beliefs, it is the very foundation of society, shaping thought, governance, relationships, and the way people coexist with their surroundings.
Religion significantly influences our approach to nature, how we value resources, our ethical considerations for conservation, and the responsibilities we perceive towards Mother Earth. In an era where climate change and environmental degradation pose a severe threat to the ecosystem, the contributions of different societal groups to these pressing issues are more crucial than ever. It is essential to examine how religious beliefs, both ancient and modern, shape the future of our planet.
A UK-based research organisation, the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), dedicated to understanding the influence of faith on individual behavior and societal participation, has undertaken a timely and significant study. This investigation explores how diverse faith traditions nurture environmental values and inspire ecological consciousness, uncovering the link between spiritual conviction and humanity’s relationship with the planet.
Titled “Conserving the World in Faith,” the report highlights the critical role faith communities play in advancing sustainable environmental practices. This extensive study highlights how religious communities and belief systems can serve as powerful agents for conservation worldwide.
In 2024, the International Institute for Faith and Leadership (IIFL) launched a new project to analyse the intersection of faith and sustainability. The study was carried out in two phases. Phase one consisted of a quantitative survey, in which IIFL commissioned a nationally representative survey of 2,396 UK adults to investigate the relationship between faith and environmentalism among different religious groups, in different regions, and across different age groups. The results of this stage were released in June 2024 in the final report entitled “Stewardship: Exploring Faith and Sustainability”.
The second stage of the study was qualitative research, where in-depth interviews were conducted to probe further into the survey findings and investigate other aspects outside the limits of quantitative data gathering. These interviews also allowed for the inclusion of Jewish, Sikh, and Buddhist communities, which were not well represented in the survey and thus could not be considered statistically significant.
Hindus show highest concern for climate change
The study’s findings indicate that Hindu respondents exhibited the highest level of concern for climate change and engaged the most in various personal environmental initiatives. Hindus perceive the world as an interconnected ecosystem where all existence is intrinsically linked, implying that every human action has consequences across time and space. The simple act of plucking a flower, for instance, is understood to send ripples through existence. This worldview fosters a deep sense of cause and effect and reinforces a profound relationship with nature.
The 2024 report stated:
“Hindu respondents exhibited the highest levels of concern for climate impacts and proactive environmental behaviors, despite a relatively high rate of skepticism regarding the human origins of climate change. This suggests that concern for the environment and climate action among Hindu respondents is driven more by cultural and socio-political motivations than by specific doctrinal beliefs.”
A majority of Hindu respondents (64 per cent) participated in rewilding initiatives, compared to a smaller proportion of exclusivist Muslims (31 per cent) and Christians (22 per cent). Hindus also led in changing consumer habits (78 per cent), donating to charities (63 per cent), and joining environmental groups (44 per cent). The report highlights:
“Whilst not the faith group that most explicitly acknowledges faith-based obligations to care for the planet, Hindu respondents demonstrated the highest levels of concern for climate change and were the most active in personal environmental actions.”
Hindus value environmentalism through experience
A crucial aspect of the study involves the definition of ‘exclusivist Hindu.’ The study describes ‘exclusivist’ as someone who believes, “I believe my faith to be the only one true religion.”
However, this definition poses an inherent challenge within traditional Hindu frameworks. While Hindus may see their spiritual path as particularly profound or effective for liberation, the concept of exclusivity contradicts Hindu Dharma’s fundamental principles.
The second phase of the study, published in March 2025, presents a more in-depth and holistic exploration of the extent to which different religions cultivate sustainability values and drive their followers toward concrete environmental action. This report distinguishes between ‘Dharmic traditions’ and ‘monotheistic faiths’ and incorporates interviews from underrepresented religious groups such as Jews, Sikhs, and Buddhists.
The findings reinforce that Hindus view all elements of nature as sacred spaces for divine worship. It is not the object itself that is venerated, but the divine presence within it. This perception fosters a worldview in which protecting the environment is an act of devotion and service to all creation. The study states:
“Our Hindu respondents (along with Buddhists) placed greater emphasis than other sampled faith groups on experiencing environmentalism firsthand—affirming and engaging in it for its intrinsic value rather than as a religious commandment. Hindus were more likely to prioritise personal conscience and experience over external religious obligations.”
Despite this, the study paradoxically states that Hindus were ‘the least likely to feel obligated by their faith to care for the environment.’ This claim raises important questions regarding the study’s interpretation of terms like ‘feel,’ ‘obligated,’ and ‘faith.’
The interviewed Hindu participants themselves expressed an ecological consciousness deeply embedded in the principles of Hindu Dharma, which resists conventional Western notions of religious systems governed by rigid doctrines and commandments. Instead, Dharma operates as an interplay between personal agency and a fluid ethical framework, nurturing an organic environmental sensibility. Consequently, Hindus’ environmental actions arise not from imposed religious duties but from an intrinsic, Dharma-infused ethical compass.
For instance, an interviewee named Shilpi remarked that her environmental values stemmed from her faith, emphasising principles of non-violence, while also being strongly influenced by her scientific background. Another respondent, 35-year-old British-Hindu Bansari Ruparel, shared:
“We should be taking care of her (Earth) because she is the one that provides us where we live… So, it’s not like they’re telling us all you need to look after it… [we do it] because it’s a goddess. Indirectly, that’s what you’re meant to do. I guess it doesn’t say it explicitly, so maybe it’s not a motivating thing for people because you have to read between the lines or you have to really practice it.”
Experiential approach to environmentalism
The study’s insights reveal that Hindu Dharma fosters a lived experience where Earth is perceived not as a mere resource but as a divine Mother, a Goddess interwoven into existence itself. This engenders an intrinsic sense of duty guiding individuals toward an ecologically responsible life.
This is not an imposed obligation but an organic spiritual resonance with nature, an acknowledgment of interconnectedness with the source of all life. Unlike religions bound by rigid doctrines, Hinduism encourages a cosmic harmony that inspires environmental consciousness naturally.
Hindu respondents, alongside Buddhists, were more inclined to practice environmentalism based on personal experience and conscience rather than religious commandments. Unlike other faith groups, Hindus placed greater value on environmental concerns as an inherent moral good rather than as a prescribed duty.
When viewed in the context of India’s consistent performance in sustainable consumption patterns, these findings present Hindu Dharma as a potential model for a universal approach to ecological consciousness. Unlike dogmatic religious systems, Hinduism emerges as a lived experience, a way of being in harmony with nature. Science may dissect beliefs, and doctrines may fade, but the fundamental human yearning for unity with the larger reality remains.
Hindu Dharma has long recognised this truth, not as a codified system but as an enduring, adaptable philosophy. It is not a religion of rigid prescriptions but a path to liberation, one that naturally aligns human life with the interconnected fabric of existence.
