How far does religious piety show up in concern for the environment? This question was answered by a survey from the Sociology of Religion Study Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, which recorded an Ecological Piety Index (IKE) for the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) of 80.10 on a scale of 100. The finding shows that religious values and ecological concern among DIY residents are in the high category, while also opening room to strengthen collective action in protecting the environment.

The survey results were released at the Release of Findings of the 2026 DIY Ecological Piety Index Quality Survey, held in the Theatrical Room of the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Islamic Thought (FUPI) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The survey is one way the university is connecting religious studies with environmental issues through a scientific, data-based approach.

Conducted from May to July 2026, the survey involved 511 residents aged 17 and older across five regencies and cities in DIY: Sleman, Bantul, Gunungkidul, Kulon Progo, and the City of Yogyakarta. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews by students of the Sociology of Religion Study Program from the class of 2024, who served as enumerators.

FUPI Dean Prof. Robby Habiba Abror welcomed the survey, which brings together religious dimensions and environmental concern. The study shows the strategic role of religious studies in reading contemporary social issues and opens opportunities to develop ecological movements rooted in religious values.

In his welcome remarks and official opening of the event, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan emphasized the importance of strengthening research as part of improving the university's academic quality. He praised FUPI's research achievements and encouraged better teaching quality and international outlook so the faculty can become more competitive nationally and globally.

On the environment, the Rector also highlighted the relevance of ecotheology, an understanding of human responsibility to protect nature as part of sustaining life and human dignity. This perspective positions religion not only as a source of spiritual values but also as an ethical foundation for responding to environmental problems.

One notable finding of the 2026 DIY IKE survey is the high score on the ritual-ecological dimension, which reached 81.35. This dimension measures the link between religious teachings, worship practices, and the role of religious institutions with environmental concern.

A total of 99.2% of respondents fell into the high to very high categories of ecological awareness. Overall, 51.7% of respondents were in the high category and 47.6% in the very high category. These results show strong public awareness of the importance of protecting the environment.

However, high awareness does not automatically mean these values are consistently put into action. The survey found that the average score for spiritual and ethical-moral values was 80.26, relatively close to the ecological behavior score of 79.72. Even so, at the individual level there is still variation between the values people hold and the behavior they practice.

Meanwhile, the social-ecological dimension scored 79.46 and the reflective-transformative dimension 79.53. These were the dimensions with the relatively lowest scores, although the gap with the ritual-ecological dimension was small. This finding points to opportunities to strengthen environmental concern through collaboration, community participation, and collective movements.

Dr. Mahatva Yoga Adi Pradana, Head of the Sociology of Religion Study Program and person in charge of the survey, explained that the IKE is designed to read ecological piety through six dimensions: spiritual-ecological, ethical-moral, ritual-ecological, ecological behavior, social-ecological, and reflective-transformative.

Through these six dimensions, ecological piety is understood not only as religious belief or understanding but also as the link between values and behavior, social relations, and efforts to bring about change for the environment.

The analysis showed that the ritual-ecological dimension was the only statistically significant predictor of ecological behavior in the study's model. This finding indicates that religious practices and institutions have potential as a strategic entry point for strengthening environmentally friendly behavior. However, this statistical relationship does not prove that ritual practice directly causes behavioral change.

In terms of respondent characteristics, education was one factor that differentiated IKE scores. Respondents with a bachelor's degree recorded an average score of 81.58, higher than junior high school graduates, who scored 78.34. Meanwhile, gender, age, income, and marital status showed no meaningful differences in scores.

What makes this research distinctive lies not only in its findings but also in the students' involvement throughout the research process. A total of 78 students from the class of 2024 in the Sociology of Religion Study Program served as enumerators who interacted directly with the community during data collection.

Student representative Dinar Onil shared her experience of the survey process, from obtaining permits from village governments to visiting residents' homes for interviews. The experience gave her an understanding that research is not just about fulfilling academic assignments or collecting numbers, but also a process of learning to understand people's lives.

Fieldwork trained students to communicate, build trust, and appreciate the diversity of residents' experiences. They also learned to see how religious values, the role of religious leaders, and social facilities can relate to community concern for the environment.

The students' involvement shows UIN Sunan Kalijaga's effort to integrate teaching and research with real-world experience in the community. Students not only learn research concepts and methods in the classroom but also take part in producing data that can inform reflection and policy considerations.

The release of the survey results also featured panelists from various fields: Dr. Moh. Soehadha, lecturer and ecology expert; Dr. Trio Yonathan Teja Kusuma, Head of the SDGs and Rankings Center at UIN Sunan Kalijaga; and Eri Kuntoro, S.ST., M.Si., Junior Expert Statistician at BPS-Statistics DIY Province. The event was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the provincial and regency/city levels, the DIY Environment and Forestry Office, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), lecturers, and students. Nearly 100 participants attended the discussion.

Furthermore, the involvement of these various stakeholders opened space for dialogue among religious perspectives, social analysis, statistical measurement, and the sustainable development agenda.

The 2026 DIY IKE is expected to serve as a reference for stakeholders in designing environmental programs that better fit the community's social conditions. The index is not an instrument for measuring a person's level of faith or comparing environmental concern across religions, but a means of understanding the relationship among values, behavior, and socio-ecological life.

Looking ahead, the development of the IKE is expected to broaden the contribution of religious studies to the sustainability agenda. The Sociology of Religion Study Program also plans a nationwide survey next year to expand the scope of the study.

Through this survey, UIN Sunan Kalijaga affirms its commitment to developing scholarship that brings together religion, the social sciences, and real community issues. Ecological piety does not stop at values people hold or rituals they perform; it also needs room in collective action to care for the earth and sustain life. (humassk)