As Indonesia grapples with climate change’s accelerating impact — from rising seas to rampant deforestation — a grassroots religious movement is reframing environmental stewardship as a sacred act of community care.

Known as Green Islam, the movement is gaining momentum across the archipelago, integrating ecological responsibility into Islamic teachings, daily worship, and education. For many Indonesians, especially in rural and devout communities, this faith-based approach is transforming climate action from a scientific issue into a moral and religious obligation.

At the forefront of the movement is Hayu Prabowo, chairman of the Environment and Natural Resources Body of the Ulema Council, Indonesia’s top Islamic clerical body. “Islam says to do a good job for the Earth, and the Earth will do good for you,” Prabowo said, encapsulating the movement’s ethos. Religious leaders like Prabowo are leveraging their trusted roles to mobilize public concern and drive collective engagement around environmental issues.

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, sits at a critical intersection of environmental vulnerability and spiritual influence. Climate-related disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and severe. Jakarta, the capital city, is literally sinking due to groundwater extraction and sea level rise. Meanwhile, widespread deforestation driven by palm oil production and nickel mining for electric vehicle batteries continues to devastate ecosystems and local communities. Peatland destruction, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and seasonal wildfires, adds to the growing crisis.

Yet amid these challenges, Green Islam offers a hopeful path forward. By positioning ecological care as a divine responsibility, the movement taps into deep-rooted cultural and spiritual values. It avoids the pitfalls of politicized or top-down climate discourse, instead fostering change from the ground up — within mosques, schools, and communities.

Grassroots programs play a vital role in this transformation. Eco-boarding schools now incorporate environmental science and sustainable practices into their religious curriculum. Interfaith environmental clubs are uniting youth across religious and ethnic lines, creating shared spaces for climate advocacy and social harmony. These initiatives are not only educating the next generation but also building civic resilience in the face of ecological and societal stress.

Faith-based environmentalism is also emerging as a force for peacebuilding. In a country that has experienced deadly ethnic and religious violence, shared concern over clean water, breathable air, and livable futures offers common ground for dialogue and unity. Environmental care becomes both a spiritual act and a tool for bridging divisions.

As Indonesia confronts the reality of a warming world, Green Islam demonstrates how faith can be a powerful ally in the fight against climate change. Rooted in community trust and moral clarity, this movement may offer one of the most enduring and culturally resonant responses to the climate emergency — not just in Indonesia, but across the Muslim world.