July 13, 2025
By Dadi Darmadi
Depok, July 11, 2025 — In a bold response to the escalating global environmental crisis, the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) at Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Jakarta, in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences (FOSS) at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) and the international journal Studia Islamika, will host the International Conference on “Religious Environmentalism in Action: Knowledge, Movements, and Policies.” Scheduled for July 16–18, 2025, at UIII’s campus in Depok, West Java, this landmark event aims to spotlight the pivotal role of religious communities in fostering ecological sustainability.
As climate change and environmental degradation intensify, religious communities worldwide, particularly in Indonesia, are stepping up with faith-based initiatives to protect the planet. From Islamic, Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, and indigenous groups to local organizations, hundreds of faith-based entities in Indonesia are championing environmental campaigns rooted in spiritual values. The concept of “Green Religion” — conservation grounded in religious ethics — has emerged as a powerful force for ecological sustainability. Yet, these efforts often lack systematic collaboration with policymakers, a gap this conference seeks to bridge.
The conference will explore the intersection of religious knowledge, faith-based environmental movements, and sustainable policy-making. Key themes include religious teachings and environmental ethics, green movements led by faith communities, and public policy support for religious environmental initiatives.
Bringing together a diverse lineup of speakers, the event will feature prominent Indonesian religious leaders, including Dr. (H.C.) K.H. Yahya Cholil Staquf (General Chairman of PBNU), Romo Dr. Aloys Budi Purnomo, Pr (Executive Secretary of the Interreligious and Belief Commission, KWI), Mayjen TNI (Ret.) Wisnu Bawa Tenaya (General Chairman of PHDI), Dr. K.H. Marsudi Syuhud, M.A. (Vice Chairman of MUI), and Pendeta Jacklevyn Fritz Manuputty (General Chairman of PGI). Internationally renowned scholars, such as Prof. Anna Gade (University of Wisconsin–Madison), Prof. Michiel Schaeffer (UIII), Prof. Frans Wijsen (Radboud University, Netherlands), Dr. Iyad Abumoghli (UN Environment Programme), and Prof. Iim Halimatusa’diyah, Ph.D. (UIN Jakarta), will also share their expertise.
The conference will host interdisciplinary panel discussions with academics, activists, religious leaders, and policymakers. Attendees can also explore a thematic exhibition featuring Green Religion photography, documentaries, and eco-friendly crafts produced by religious communities.
This event marks a milestone in celebrating 30 years of Studia Islamika, which this year focuses on “religion and environmental sustainability” to contribute to global and Southeast Asian Islamic discourse. It also aligns with the Religious Environmentalism Actions (REACT) project, which empowers young religious leaders and communities to drive sustainable environmental development in Indonesia. Through research, public campaigns, and policy advocacy, REACT supports national priorities outlined in Indonesia’s 2020–2024 and 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plans, emphasizing environmental quality, climate resilience, and low-carbon development.
By fostering collaboration among religious communities, environmental activists, and policymakers, the conference aims to forge actionable solutions to the pressing climate crisis. This initiative underscores the transformative potential of faith-based environmentalism in creating a sustainable future.
About PPIM
Established in 1995, the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta is a leading research institution focused on Indonesian and Southeast Asian Islam. Through interdisciplinary research, training, and publications, PPIM challenges outdated perceptions of Islam in the region as “peripheral” and promotes a deeper understanding of its diversity and significance.
The Religious Environmentalism Actions (REACT) program, conducted by PPIM UIN Jakarta, empowers young religious leaders and communities to advance sustainable environmental development in Indonesia. Through national surveys, qualitative studies, public campaigns, and policy advocacy, REACT strengthens faith-based environmental movements and supports eco-friendly initiatives, including sustainable Islamic boarding schools (pesantren).
For more information, visit FOSS at UIII official website: https://soc.uiii.ac.id/ or PPIM website at https://ppim.uinjkt.ac.id/
Join us in Depok this July to shape a greener, more sustainable world through the power of faith.
Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia
