Faith without action? Christian ecological conviction and the civic participation gap in Australia

Abstract

Three-quarters of the world’s population identify with a religion, suggesting that faith communities constitute a vast (yet under-mobilised) civic infrastructure for sustainability transitions. Christianity remains the world’s largest religious tradition, making it consequential for analysing conviction–action dynamics. Using Australia as a case study, this research investigates why widely professed moral concern for the environment does not translate more readily into collective environmental action. Using Australia as a case study, our national sample survey (n = 1295), weighted to reflect the Australian population aged 18+, indicates a belief-action gap that is systematic rather than incidental, underpinned by barriers across micro-meso-macro levels. Our analysis identifies actionable strategies to help faith communities translate ecological conviction into effective civic engagement with policy-relevant sustainability outcomes. By clarifying pathways through which faith commitments can be mobilised into civic action, the article offers insights transferable beyond Australia and churches to other national and faith contexts, with implications for advancing SDGs 3, 6, 11, 12, 13, 16, and 17.