Islamic Climate Declaration Asks Muslims to Take Action On Climate Change
by Sangeeta Haindl
Islamic leaders have issued an Islamic Climate Declaration, calling 1.6 billion Muslims around the world to work towards phasing out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and towards a 100 percent renewable energy strategy. Their collective statement makes several detailed political demands likely to increase pressure on oil-producing Gulf States ahead of the Paris climate summit this December. Drafted at an international symposium in Istanbul, the Declaration calls for "all people, leaders and businesses to commit to 100 percent renewable energy." The declaration was made by Islamic figures from Bosnia to Indonesia, and follows the Papal encyclical this summer and President Obama’s announcement of a Clean Power Plan this August. Catholic leaders have praised the Islamic Declaration as a positive step.
A group of top academics have been engaged in drafting the Declaration, which asks Muslims, in the words of the Koran, "not to strut arrogantly on the Earth," Their direct statement says, “Human activity is putting such a strain on the natural functions of the earth that the ability of the planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted.” They made reference to oil, saying, “We particularly call on the well-off nations and oil-producing states to lead the way in phasing out their greenhouse gas emissions as early as possible and no later than the middle of the century.”
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Photo Credit: The International Islamic Climate Change Symposium
Sangeeta Haindl writes on women and children; social innovation; social enterprise and social entrepreneurs. She is the founder of Serendipity PR, in London, U.K., where she works with high-profile brands and organizations in the public, non-profit, and corporate sectors, winning awards for her work from the communications industry. She is chairman of London's leading conscious well being organisation, Alternatives, which hosts leading speakers such as Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Neale Donald Walsch and many other well-known names. She describes herself as a Spiritual Entrepreneur, Conscious Explorer; enjoying helping others, paying it forward and being a mum.
