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Doctoral student Hinna Hussain recently asked us if she could observe our work for her research. We were pleased to participate and support her work, and we asked her to write a blog to share her work with our supporters: we believe community is integral to environmental work. We hope you enjoy!
Environmental issues remain among the most urgent concerns of our time, representing a universal challenge that invites every community to contribute their unique expertise and perspectives. As a doctoral student at the University of Ottawa, I study how individuals from vastly different backgrounds and worldviews come together around causes that affect us all, building community through shared environmental action. I aim to capture the nuance of lived experiences, and the stories people share around environmental matters in Canada, which is what makes this work so meaningful. My research explores the motivations that lead individuals to engage in environmental issues, the ways in which they perceive the impact of their involvement, and the real-time interactions that unfold when groups work together across lines of difference. It examines the types of engagements and interactions that result when people of diverse religious and nonreligious backgrounds collaborate around environmental action, and how their varying worldviews shape both individual and collective efforts.
While analysis is ongoing, fascinating insights are emerging in my work. Interviews reveal a wide range of personal motivations and perspectives. Many participants shared that their environmental care is deeply rooted in early experiences with nature including gardening, spending time in the mountains or by lakes, working on grandparents’ farms, or even petting animals. These formative connections with the natural world foster a personal sense of belonging and spark a lifelong commitment to protecting nature and the environment. Some individuals describe their environmental engagement as a form of religious stewardship or spiritual duty, while others speak of a universal responsibility that reaches beyond faith and reflects a moral obligation to future generations. As one participant reflected, "What is my legacy? I realized part of it is how I connect with communities and the space I leave for future generations." Many also expressed concerns about humanity’s role within ecosystems, emphasizing that despite the remarkable advances brought by technology, such progress has often come at the expense of ecological balance and has accelerated environmental degradation.
It was fascinating to observe how many participants frequently viewed environmental spaces as safe environments for connection and shared purpose. These settings offered comfort, a sense of belonging, and freedom from judgment. For many, they became spaces not only to express environmental concern but also to develop friendships, engage in social activities, and build both personal and professional networks.
While the increasing visibility of marginalized groups in environmental spaces is encouraging, systemic inequities continue to inhibit truly inclusive collaboration. Women and LGBTQ+ participants are deeply involved, yet leadership structures across all regions studied remain largely homogeneous, dominated by white men. Even in Vancouver and Victoria, where Indigenous leadership is more prominent, Indigenous ecological knowledge is often sidelined in planning and policy decisions. Immigrant volunteers regularly contribute essential labor, yet their perspectives are rarely included in shaping project goals or strategy. These patterns expose an uneven distribution of power and voice, challenging the ideals of inclusivity and co-creation that many initiatives aspire to uphold.
Hinna Hussain is a doctoral candidate/researcher at the Department of Classics and Religious Studies, University of Ottawa. She holds graduate degrees in Social Sciences (Development Studies) and a Master of Arts from the Aga Khan University (International) in the United Kingdom. Her doctoral research explores how environmental issues can foster interaction and engagement among individuals from diverse backgrounds in Canada. Her research interests include environmental issues and community engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and partnerships between religious and nonreligious individuals and ideas of working together. She is also part of the SSHRC-funded international interdisciplinary project Nonreligion in a Complex Future (NCF). In addition to her academic work, she facilitates sessions that use art as a tool to process eco-anxiety.
