Sustainability at the Faculty of Theology and the Study of Religion

The Faculty of Theology and the Study of Religion (TRF) at the University of Zurich is committed to sustainability in its research, teaching, collaboration and its management.

Researchers at TRF examine the ethical foundations of sustainable development, analyze the role of religious actors in transformation processes, and address issues of social and environmental justice. Their work contributes to the understanding of the normative and cultural dimensions of sustainability and the ways in which they are intertwined with religious ideas and practices.

Theological Anthropology in the Anthropocene

In his habilitation project,Dr. Michael Pfenninger explores how theological anthropology can contribute to reflection on planetary responsibility. His focus is on questions of sin, grace, and human co-creation in the Anthropocene - an era marked by the systematic overshooting of planetary boundaries, leading to persistent ecological crisis.

• Preliminary study available on CURSOR_
• Pfenninger is a member of the working group “Theology in Climate Crisis” at the FEST Heidelberg

Ethics of Eco-Spiritualities

In her dissertation “Ethics of eco-spiritualities,” Sarah Bettina Bach examines the role of the term “spirituality” in popular scientific climate literature. Her aim is to rethink the relationship between ethics and spirituality in eco-theological discourse, including the chances and risks of normative exaggeration.

• Project description
• SRF-Interview “Does Activism Need Spirituality?”

Planetary Sustainability

In his research project “Planetary Sustainability”, PD Dr. Andreas Losch develops a perspective that goes beyond the Earth. In the face of increasing space debris and future space mining, sustainability must be considered beyond the boundaries of our planet and include near-Earth space in its ethical reflection.

Ecological Theology in the First Letter to Timothy

Prof. Dr. Stefan Krauter is working on a commentary on the First Letter to Timothy in the series “Earth Bible Commentary”.  This New Testament text combines a positive view of creation with an understanding of Christianity that emphasizes responsibility for the world. At the same time, it contains statements that have historically been used to justify the oppression of women and slavery. The commentary highlights these tensions and seeks to bring them into productive dialogue.

• «All Things Bright and Beautiful». La théologie de la création dans 1 Timothée, Revue de Théologie et de Philosophie 155 (2023), 121–137.
• Sound – Voice – Communication. A Response to Vicky Balabanski, Journal of Ethics in Antiquity and Christianity 5 (2023), 87–90.

Starting in the fall semester of 2025, TRF will host the «Bachelor in Sustainability» (BASUS) program. In this international joint degree program, offered in cooperation with seven other European universities, students will gain insights into the cultural, social and political conditions necessary for a societal transformation towards greater sustainability. They will analyze patterns and causes of unsustainability and acquire skills to initiate and shape sustainability transformations as future “change agents” in various contexts - from companies to civil society organizations to public administration.

In addition to their own projects, members of the TRF are active in various networks to advance sustainability in collaboration with other institutions.

• Working Group “Theology in the Climate Crisis”: 
  In cooperation with the Research Institute of the Protestant Study Community (FEST) in Heidelberg, the Institute for Social Ethics at UZH participates in this working group. The goal is to deepen theological perspectives on ecological crises and sustainability through interdisciplinary dialogue.
• UNA Europe SSC Sustainability

The TRF has developed an ambitious strategy to reduce flight-related CO₂ emissions. This includes a set of travel approval guidelines that consider criteria such as prioritization and alternatives to air travel.

• CO₂-Budgeting: The faculty is allocated a maximum of 24.95 tons of CO₂ available for air travel per semester.
• Prioritization and Lottery: Air travel must always be requested and authorized. If the CO₂ budget is exceeded, a lottery will determine approval.
• Promotion of Sustainable Alternatives: Whenever possible, preference will be given to train travel or virtual formats.