Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Climate Change in a Muslim Community in Knoxville, Tennessee

Haya Bader Albaker, Kelsey N. Ellis (), Jennifer First, Dimitris A. Herrera and Solange Muñoz
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Haya Bader Albaker: Department of Geography and Sustainability, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Kelsey N. Ellis: Department of Geography and Sustainability, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Jennifer First: School of Social Work, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
Dimitris A. Herrera: Department of Geography and Sustainability, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Solange Muñoz: Department of Geography and Sustainability, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Muslims are religiously obligated to care for the Earth, yet little empirical research exists on how Muslim communities in the U.S. engage with climate change. This study used a mixed-methods approach to explore climate change knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among 82 Muslims in Knoxville, Tennessee, building on prior theoretical or internationally focused work. Results found that participants largely accepted anthropogenic climate change and were strongly willing to act, citing Islamic principles such as stewardship and divine accountability as key motivators. However, many felt underinformed and lacked clarity on how to take action. Religious texts, more than religious leaders, shaped environmental views, offering interpretations that both aligned with and diverged from scientific narratives. Education and personal experience were the most frequently cited sources of climate understanding. Religion emerged as an important source of climate knowledge and a filter through which scientific information was interpreted. The knowledge and environmental attitudes inspired by their religion guided many participants to mitigate climate impacts, although some expressed a more fatalistic view of climate change. These findings suggest that effective climate communication in Muslim communities should integrate faith-based teachings with scientific messaging and engage religious leaders as amplifiers. Expanding this research to include more diverse Muslim populations across the U.S. can provide deeper insight into how Islamic worldviews shape climate engagement and behavior.

Keywords: religion; environmental stewardship; mitigation; southeast (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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