Religious leaders in Indonesia and across the globe are increasingly recognized as powerful voices in the fight against the climate crisis, according to new research released by GreenFaith and the Laudato Si Movement. 

The report, “Telling the Climate and Faith Story: Strategies for Media Engagement,” highlights how faith-based actors have become central in shaping climate discourse and influencing public opinion.

With 87 percent of the world’s population projected to identify with a religion by 2050, the study emphasizes that mobilizing faith communities could be one of the most effective levers for accelerating climate action and advancing the global energy transition.

The findings show that between 2010 and 2024, media coverage and social media conversations have steadily increased references to climate issues raised by religious figures. Coverage typically spikes during major global events, particularly the annual UN Climate Change Conferences (COPs), signaling key windows of opportunity to amplify climate-and-faith narratives in the public sphere.

Ordained religious leaders, the study notes, hold a unique moral and social authority that allows them to command significant public attention. Their visibility and influence make them pivotal in drawing urgency to climate challenges and inspiring collective action.

“Religious leaders’ calls are crucial, and the media is eager to quote their views on many issues,” Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith, said in a statement on Monday, September 8, 2025. “There is a unique opportunity to showcase leadership and grassroots faith-based action on climate change, helping frame climate as a broad religious issue that involves not just clerics but entire communities.”

The report underscores that Indonesia mirrors these global trends. Prominent Muslim public figures with political and social influence have proven effective in spreading messages that blend cultural heritage, spiritual values, and ecological responsibility.

“In the midst of an escalating climate crisis, the voice of faith serves as a bridge of hope,” Hening Parlan, National Coordinator of GreenFaith Indonesia, said. “Through spiritual values, faith communities can spark the collective courage needed to protect the Earth as a sacred trust.”

Rahma Shofiana, Project Leader of Ummah for Earth at Greenpeace Indonesia, also stressed the vital role of faith leaders in mobilizing communities for environmental stewardship.

“Faith leaders can guide their communities by example and by advocating for climate action,” Shofiana cited. “There are countless ways to engage − from inspiring simple lifestyle changes to encouraging interfaith collaboration on environmental efforts. In Indonesia especially, religious leaders often have close ties with policymakers, which positions them to influence and push for stronger climate policies.”

The study suggests that connecting climate messages with religious values is not only relevant but strategically powerful. To expand its impact, the report recommends highlighting grassroots faith leadership, showcasing youth-led religious environmental initiatives, elevating the number of clerics speaking out on climate issues, and ensuring rapid response to climate-related events.

Iyad Abumoghli, Director of the Faith for Earth Coalition at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), framed the issue as a moral imperative that transcends politics.

“Climate change is not just a policy issue, it is a human one,” Abumoghli said. “Policies can set targets, but people must carry them out. Religion and faith are among the few institutions that can reach every village, every city, and every corner of the world. Religious leaders carry legitimacy that technical experts or politicians alone cannot provide. Their voices influence billions, creating the possibility of behavior change on a massive scale.”

The report concludes that building stronger collaboration between media, policymakers, and faith communities could accelerate climate action and ensure the climate crisis is framed not just as a scientific or political challenge, but as a profound moral and spiritual obligation.