Urgent Call to Address the Climate Crisis with Involvement of Faith Communities Discussed at the Faith Pavillion
The activities of the Faith Pavilion at COP28 continued into its eleventh day, featuring several panel sessions that focused on exploring various religious approaches to climate action. Topics ranged from youth engagement and climate concerns to the shared commitment of faith actors to climate justice, sustainability, as well as exploring climate and sustainability in the Quran and Sunnah.
Participants in the first session, titled “Exploring Religious Resistence to Climate Action,” stressed the urgent need for broad-scale engagement and practical responses to the climate crisis, emphasizing the vital role of religious communities. They highlighted the importance of shifting societal mindsets towards environmental preservation from a religious and moral perspective. Additionally, they underscored the need to move away from resource exploitation through mismanagement and political disputes as a means to address climate change repercussions.
Participants emphasized that religious communities can provide the ethical foundation for addressing the climate crisis and guiding individuals to take purposeful and transformative climate actions. They stressed the importance of considering all religious perspectives and orientations within societies to realize collaborative climate actions.
Titled “Youth, Climate Anxiety, and the Role of Faith,” the second session addressed the significant concerns, particularly among young people and children, regarding climate change and the future of our planet. Participants highlighted the crucial role played by religious leaders and communities in addressing this concern. They called for innovation and active participation in environmental conservation initiatives to address the climate crisis for future generations. They also emphasized the need to raise religious and cultural awareness among young people regarding environmental protection and climate change impacts, encouraging them to devise solutions for tackling this crisis.
In the third session, titled “Call to Action: Joint Commitment of Faith-Based Actors for Climate Justice,” participants emphasized the importance of religious leaders in enabling all communities to adapt to climate changes fairly, ensuring they benefit adequately from the transition to renewable energy sources and the optimal utilization of natural resources available in many societies, particularly in Africa. They stressed the need for these measures to avoid climate-related emergencies.
Participants discussed the impact of floods, wildfires, droughts, and hurricanes on their communities. They emphasized the proactive response of religious leaders, which extended beyond simple reconstruction efforts. These leaders, participants pointed out, have made efforts to mitigate climate emergencies by encouraging changes in consumption patterns concerning water, food, and natural resources within their respective communities. Furthermore, they underscored the significance of strengthening global cooperation and fostering a shared commitment among communities to ensure climate justice for all.
In the fourth session, Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Farsi, Senior Grand Researcher at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, discussed the theme of ‘Sustainability in the Quran and Sunnah'. He highlighted that sustainability in the Quran and Sunnah signifies sustaining the primary sources of the Islamic faith. Dr. Farsi explained that sustainability involves providing for the current generation’s needs without compromising the rights of future generations.
Dr. Farsi explained that the Quran urges us not to be extravagant, as God Almighty says: “And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate;” (Quran, 25:67) “And eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess." (Quran, 7:31). Furthermore, in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he discouraged extravagance in the use of water and emphasized the importance of its conservation. Dr. Farsi further affirmed that Islamic teachings emphasize the need to regulate the consumption behaviors of communities.
The fifth session, titled “A Visual Expression of Humanity’s Values,” delved into shared human values through topics and initiatives in the field of climate justice. It also addressed gender equality, youth involvement, dietary patterns, and their role in promoting human values and collaboration to protect planet Earth from the impacts of climate change. Participants emphasized the importance of forging new partnerships and alliances among all communities, especially religious ones, to guide individuals toward shared values and principles that advocate for environmental care and sustainability across all walks of life to save the planet from the impacts of climate change.
