The Rise of Environmentalism in the Shiʿi World: Evidence from Iran, Lebanon, and Yemen

Different versions of environmentalism have emerged in the Shiʿi world, which has its own tradition of relevant scholarship. Iran has promoted an apolitical environmentalism that can mobilize the society, while fostering collaboration with like-minded countries of the Global South. In Lebanon, Hizbullah has adopted a grassroots environmentalism by engaging in a wide range of activities, such as reforestation and water management. The Houthi movement in Yemen has embraced a confrontational environmentalism, which largely blames foreign powers for the current environmental degradation. Despite their differences, these state and quasi-state actors have comparable understandings and conceptions of the environment as a physical and social space. Overall, they have largely focused on human needs rather than nature’s needs. In this context, religion functions more as a force of legitimization than a source of guidance.