Around five years ago, an Australian scientist named Guy Lane was sailing along the coast when a bird landed on his boat. For several minutes they shared a quiet exchange, resting side by side under a shared sun. When the bird finally took flight, it vanished into the open sea. Lane describes the moment as a spiritual and ecological revelation.
He explains that he came to see all living things as part of one biosphere, and that humans are inextricably linked to nature. This insight sparked the outline of a new belief system aimed at deepening human empathy for the planet. Lane named the faith Vita, and this Sunday marks the first public talk about it, following his sessions at the Dubai climate summit where he spoke on two occasions.
“All religions acknowledge a supreme being. For Vita, the Earth is that being.”
Guy Lane, a scientist who has spent two decades highlighting the climate crisis, notes that many faiths hold a higher power. For Vita, that power is the Earth itself. The belief rests on nine guiding principles, including staying connected with nature and seeking to understand it. The idea is that we are part of one living whole and should live in balance with the environment.
One of the organization’s captions reads that the movement doesn’t worship a deity but centers on a manifesto of about twelve pages that lays out the spiritual principles. Everything else draws from scientific studies, Lane says.
Lane does not present himself as a prophet or a chosen one. He describes himself as someone who connects the pieces and now aims to speak about a faith dedicated to saving the planet. At the Dubai summit, he called for a rapid shift away from fossil fuels, a significant reduction in greenhouse gases, and the restoration of natural areas. He emphasizes that science backs this call and holds up a short pamphlet that outlines Vita’s spiritual guide.
Fifty million believers
What is the path for Vita to influence the world? Lane advocates mass enlightenment. He speaks of an ecological awakening that helps people grasp the risks facing the planet and why structural changes are essential to sustaining life. His goal, he says, is to reach roughly 50 million people worldwide. He believes real change must come from those who can influence political and economic power, and only then can humanity begin to reverse the downward trajectory caused by the climate crisis and protect all living beings on Earth.
“We must enter a new green era where every living thing can thrive.”
The purpose behind Vita is straightforward: to promote a shift in attitudes across millions of people and to encourage an active stance against the climate emergency.
Lane envisions a new green era in which humans and all other living beings can coexist for generations. His proposals draw on traditional teachings and contemporary ecological research, asserting that the best available scientific reports affirm the need for action. He argues there is no room for doubt about the importance of this struggle.
At present Vita does not have an official follower list or a dedicated house of worship. Lane explains that he has spent three years laying the groundwork and has not yet begun a broad campaign to spread the idea. He describes Vita as a philosophical and intellectual movement that seeks to mobilize consciences.
A final note from Lane remains inclusive: a person can be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or atheist and still belong to Vita. The essence is unity in purpose, he says, hopeful as he moves through the climate summit corridors while sharing his vision.