With 87% of the world’s population projected to identify with a religion by 2050, faith communities hold a tremendous potential to shape global climate action. A new research report, Telling the Faith and Climate Story – Strategies for Media Engagement, highlights just how influential faith leaders and communities are in shaping public discourse around climate change.
The study reveals that media coverage of faith and climate issues spikes around major international events like the UN Climate Summits (COPs). These moments create powerful opportunities to amplify faith voices that call for urgent, ethical, and justice-centered climate action.
Why this matters for our movement
Religious values—stewardship of creation, justice for the most vulnerable, and moral responsibility—consistently emerge as drivers of climate action across all major traditions. While Christianity currently dominates much of the faith-climate conversation in the media, the study highlights untapped opportunities within Muslim and Hindu communities, both of which show high levels of engagement and advocacy potential.
This aligns directly with Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si’ to care for our common home as a moral and spiritual responsibility. For our global movement, it reaffirms the need to continue lifting up faith-rooted climate stories that inspire action across traditions, regions, and cultures.
These new insights and the communications guide are tools you can use to strengthen your own communication strategies and improve how you share the climate and faith message within your circles. Together, we can inspire more people to act for our common home.
Key insights from the study
- Faith motivates action: The shared values of stewardship, justice, and moral responsibility unite all major religious traditions.
- Windows of opportunity: Media coverage of faith and climate surges during major climate events like COPs—critical times to share our stories.
- Faith groups are rising: From COP21 to COP29 in Baku, faith leaders have spoken with growing unity, urging immediate and just climate action as a shared ethical and spiritual responsibility.
A new guide for faith leaders
Alongside the research, a new communications guide has been launched to help faith leaders craft messages that are both theologically grounded and publicly resonant. The guide equips communities with tools to communicate clearly, credibly, and effectively in the public sphere.
Both the full report and guide will be available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Bahasa at www.faithandclimate.org.