Water efficiency in faith and diverse communities

Recognising that religion and culture profoundly influence daily practices, it is essential to integrate these perspectives into solutions for current polycrises, such as water shortages and droughts, exploring how religious approaches can offer innovative ways to address water issues. Dr Anastasia Badder’s research, conducted on behalf of the Cambridge Interfaith Programme (CIP), aims to uncover new opportunities for water conservation and sustainability practices inspired by and aligned with religious perspectives.

The research has demonstrated that while many individuals from Cambridge’s faith communities are actively engaged in environmental activism and sustainability initiatives, there is significant mistrust towards the water industry’s motives in initiating dialogue. Despite this scepticism, participants expressed interest and began to explore how their religious beliefs might influence their approach to water use. The research outputs aim to inform an evidence-based water efficiency framework and introduce culturally tailored interventions and behaviour change campaigns to reduce water consumption and enhance public trust.