Professor of Sociology at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN), Lim Halimatusa’diyah, was a speaker at the Wednesday Forum organized by the Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies Program (CRCS) at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Graduate School. The Wednesday Forum serves as a weekly discussion and learning space for students, featuring experts and activists. Attendees included CRCS faculty members Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir and Dr. Leonard Chrysostomos Epafras, at the event held on Wednesday (September 4th) in Room 307, 3rd Floor, UGM Graduate School Building.
During the event, Lim highlighted the relationship between religion and pro-environment behavior in Indonesian society. She mentioned that religion has a dual effect on shaping eco-friendly behavior and can serve as social capital to enhance environmental awareness and actions. Individuals committed to their religious rituals tend to be more environmental friendly.
“The majority of Indonesians agree to collaborate on environmental issues, and differences in belief should not hinder cooperation. However, sociological conditions remain a barrier, as many Indonesians rarely interact or befriend those of different religions,” Lim stated.
The discussion session was interactive, with Dr. Leonard responded to Lim’s points: “One statement I need to clarify is how to explain that individuals who seriously practice religious rituals influence pro-environmental behavior.” Lim explained that each religion has different indicators to assess the seriousness of ritual practices.
In conclusion, this Wednesday Forum emphasized the potential of religious values to inspire pro-environment actions. Indonesia faces environmental challenges continuously, the insights shared serve as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to address global issues like climate change.
Keywords: SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Author: Asti Rahmaningrum