Rather than seeing the Earth as the place where life developed or was created by God, the Gaia theory has helped people to understand that the Earth is itself a living system. Lovelock’s theory helped pave the way for climate scientists, campaigners and activists to articulate why the actions of humans were so potentially devastating for Planet Earth and its inhabitants. The Gaia theory highlights the self-regulatory ways that the Earth can stay alive and continue to support life upon it. One such example is the greenhouse effect, which, following human interference, is at risk of causing a global catastrophe through global warming. While the Gaia theory is not ascribed to a particular religious outlook or tradition, it has fed into non-religious worldviews and various discussions of ethical behaviour relating to how we treat the planet. 

Europe’s first eco-mosque (in Cambridge, UK) would make a great case study for how one religious tradition is putting the teachings to care for the environment into practice. It uses water recuperation and solar power and is a sustainably sourced wooden structure – just three examples of how this building is reducing its carbon footprint and reminding people of the beauty of Allah’s created world. Teachers and students can navigate the website to see how the mosque supports the local community and explore its environmental credentials. 

The tragedy of one family in the small Indian village of Piplantri is turned into a powerful symbol of hope and sustainability through the actions of one man, Sindar Paliwal. Coming from the Dharmic tradition, where sacred texts refer to the worth and life within plants and trees, the community also holds that the number 111 has a special significance. When tragedy struck Sindar’s family, and his daughter passed away, he planted a tree in her memory. From this one act, a new tradition was born, which brings together a renewed respect and cherishment of the 111 trees planted for a new baby girl, as well as an opportunity to show the worth of a girl being born, where previously they may have been seen as a burden. This case study will stand out as a positive story for how religious communities can make a change amid news that can seem overwhelmingly pessimistic about the future of our planet, as well as showing how gender equality and social justice can be linked to our ecological endeavours. 

This encyclical letter from the leader of one of the world’s main religious traditions showcases the importance of caring for the environment as part of a sacred duty within the faith. While previous Popes in the Roman Catholic Church have mentioned a duty to care for the planet, this paper is unique because it is dedicated entirely to this aim. Sections of this paper can be used within the classroom to explore how the Roman Catholic Christian tradition aims to protect the environment without needing to set this in competition with a duty to care for the poor. In contrast, the two should be pursued as a joint project. Students can also explore this paper for its message of hope that we are capable as humans of changing our ways and that though the future appears difficult, we are still able to make a difference. 

A lens on Krishna, one of the most worshiped Hindu gods, and how the religion of Hinduism views the environment in light of Krishna's flute playing in the forest.