Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje presents care for the natural world as a direct expression of Buddhist ethics, rather than an optional concern at the margins of spiritual life. Drawing on the teachings of compassion and interdependence, he emphasizes that harming the environment inevitably harms countless sentient beings, because all forms of life are intimately connected. From this perspective, environmental responsibility becomes a natural extension of the bodhisattva ideal: to protect beings from suffering requires protecting the conditions that sustain their lives. Environmental action is thus framed as dharma practice itself, not as a separate, secular activity.

This vision is given concrete form through structured initiatives within the Karma Kagyu tradition. The Karmapa has established environmental guidelines for monasteries and nunneries, encouraging them to become models of ecological responsibility. These guidelines and related programs address issues such as forest and water conservation, wildlife protection, waste reduction and recycling, organic farming, and the use of renewable energy. Monastic communities are encouraged to undertake practical projects like tree planting, clean water and water conservation efforts, and improved waste management, so that spiritual institutions can serve as living examples of sustainable, compassionate living for surrounding communities.

His approach also extends to personal conduct and lifestyle, where simplicity and restraint are treated as spiritual disciplines with ecological implications. He encourages reduced consumption, mindful use of resources, and a diet that minimizes harm, including support for vegetarianism and reduced meat consumption. Such choices are presented as ways to align everyday habits with the principles of non-harming and responsibility for the wider web of life. In this way, environmental ethics are woven into both communal structures and the intimate details of individual practice.

A further dimension of his work lies in teaching and outreach, where environmental concern is consistently linked to inner transformation. The Karmapa offers teachings that connect Buddhist doctrine with ecological responsibility, urging practitioners—especially younger generations—to see environmental care as an arena for engaged compassion. He participates in broader conversations on climate change, pollution, and the loss of biodiversity, highlighting how these outer crises reflect inner attitudes such as greed and ignorance. By encouraging collaboration with wider society and secular efforts, his approach suggests that authentic spiritual practice naturally flows outward into concrete care for the earth and all who depend upon it.