Are religious organizations becoming green? Faith communities’ role in advancing environmental sustainability in Switzerland

Abstract Scholarship increasingly regards religion as a crucial factor for transitions towards environmentally more sustainable societies. Despite the rising interest in religion, little is known about the environmental activities of religious organizations. This study explores in what ways religious organizations are becoming environmentally engaged and contribute to broader societal change. In order to address this question, a survey with 1,395 religious organizations from different faith traditions and additional in-depth interviews were conducted in Switzerland. The results show that religious organizations increasingly engage in environmental activities and, thereby, contribute to advancing environmental sustainability in society at large. Over a third of the congregations in the survey (36.5%) reported that there had been a process leading to more environmental awareness in the congregation. The vast majority of the studied congregations (86%) undertake environmental activities. The engagement concentrates on recycling (68% of congregations) and receiving “green” electricity (49%), while 40% of congregations state that they have organized at least one celebration with a focus on the environment in the last 24 months. However, the stimulus for this religious engagement often comes from society. Religious organizations path-follow societal developments and focus mostly on technological change. Assuming a path-following role, they provide pioneering impulses in wider society only to a minor extent. These insights nuance claims about the innovative role and the “greening” of religions.