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Indonesia Explores Religion's Role Amidst Ecological Social Crisis
Amidst escalating environmental crises like forest fires and climate change in Indonesia, the crucial role of religious communities in addressing these issues is being highlighted. Religious circles acknowledge their current limited engagement with environmental problems, calling for a re-evaluation of religious values that emphasize harmony and interdependence with nature.
As a cascade of disasters strikes Indonesia, with the haze from forest fires in Kalimantan, Sumatra, and even Papua yet to subside and thousands of hotspots still burning, millions continue to inhale the smoke. The root causes are attributed to the climate crisis, poor governance, and economic growth ambitions that sacrifice nature. This conclusion emerged from a cross-element discussion organized by the Ecology Justice Council and the Jagat Festival held by the Gusdurian Network. Under the theme "Religion for the Universe," the discussion took place at Pondok Pesantren Khoiriyah Hasyim in Jombang on Monday (8/29/26). Jagat is an acronym for Jejaring Agama untuk Gerakan Alam dan Toleransi (Religious Network for Nature and Tolerance Movements). Jay Akhmad, Coordinator of the National Secretariat of the Gusdurian Network, stated that the forum stemmed from a concern about the limited engagement of religious social movements in addressing various ecological social crises in Indonesia. "This comes from our concern about the situation, where we see and feel that religion is still far from talking about and playing a role in environmental issues," he said. He recalled Gus Dur's words: "Destroying nature is the same as destroying humanity." Inayah Wahid, a Supervisory Board member of Greenpeace Indonesia, highlighted the state's weak political will in environmental improvement efforts. Agustinus Tri Budi Utomo, Bishop of the Diocese of Surabaya, described the forum as an "oasis of encounter," reminding him of the stories of Saint Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil. This encounter inspired Pope Francis to issue the encyclical "Laudato Si'," a moral call for environmental stewardship, with one of its missions being to save the Earth. The fundamental principle is that all creatures are faces of God, created with love and interconnectedness. He emphasized the interdependence between humans and nature, stating, "We are all in one ship, one common home. No matter how great religion is...". This article was originally published on Mongabay
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Mongabay Indonesia