Belief and the Environment

A free online resource for secondary schools exploring the intersection of faith, belief and environment – featuring real stories and support for pupil-led action.

This three-part resource takes pupils on a journey through faith, belief and the environment. Starting with self-discovery and an exploration of how their own identities, beliefs and values influence their attitudes and actions towards the environment, then leading them to explore a range of perspectives from different worldviews using our uniquely curated story bank.

In the story bank, you will find a mix of video and written content to bring to life the stories of different individuals and how their beliefs have inspired their actions for the environment. Finally, pupils will learn about the power of collective action and come together to create their own environmental action project, inspired by and grounded in their different values, beliefs and worldviews.

Key skills: Interfaith dialogue, self-reflection and self-awareness, tolerance and understanding, conscious empathy, critical thinking, religious literacy, active citizenship and social action, project planning and implementation, environmental awareness

We would really like to hear more about how you use the resources and any reflection that students or staff have – contact us on info@faithbeliefforum.org.

The key aims of this resource are:

To explore the role of faith, belief and values in environmental action.
To acknowledge the eco-anxiety that young people are currently facing and give them a safe space to explore these feelings, whilst supporting them to feel more in-control and confident, giving them agency and empowerment.
To introduce the concept of safe and brave spaces, co-creating a space where pupils can bring their whole selves to school and take part in dialogue around real-world issues.
To allow pupils the opportunity to explore their own identities, and to hear different perspectives on the environment from people of various worldviews, giving them a safe space to exercise curiosity and empathy.
To explore the concept of collective action and how both religious and non-religious values can inspire people to act collectively for the climate, recognising that we are motivated and inspired in different ways, and celebrating the diversity of belief in the classroom.
To support and empower pupils to co-create and implement their own environmental action project, inspired and grounded in the values and beliefs present in the classroom, and bridging the knowledge-action gap by moving beyond words and thoughts into tangible actions.