By A Mirsab, TwoCircles.net,
Istanbul/New Delhi: Islamic Relief Worldwide, an international humanitarian organisation and a member of the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council has successfully led the historic ‘Islamic Climate Change Declaration’ that called on the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims to play an active role in combating climate change and urged governments to conclude an effective universal climate change agreement in Paris at the end of the year.
Islamic leaders lunch climate change declaration in Istanbul
The declaration was announced on August 18 in an international Symposium held in Istanbul, Turkey that was co-organized by Islamic Relief Worldwide, Islamic Foundation for Ecology & Environmental Sciences (IFEES) and GreenFaith. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Islamic Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization were also joint collaborators in significant Symposium.
The declaration, which is based on Islamic teachings, was drafted by a group of top academics and finalised at the Symposium.
Islamic Relief has taken a lead from 2013 onwards when the global negotiations started, with a view to advocate perspectives of Muslim nations and their people on climate change and to bring forward voices of the Muslim community through continuous engagement with the Government of Muslim majority countries.
To give further impetus to this process, Islamic Relief took lead in inviting Muslim Scholars from 20 countries on August 17-18, 2015 in Istanbul to discuss various facets of climate, its impact and role of Muslim community.
The consultation concluded with a declaration as “Islamic Declaration on Climate Change”, calling on the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims to join hands together to eliminate dangerous greenhouse gas emissions and commit to renewable energy sources.
It is hoped that the Declaration will result in strong commitment from all the participant countries for a strong outcome in Paris. Faith leaders from other faith traditions will be joining the Symposium as a sign of solidarity and to welcome the declaration following the Pope’s Encyclical released in June, earlier this year.
In December 2015, world governments will be meeting in Paris where they are expected to forge a new, international climate agreement that will be robust, ambitious and commensurate with the scientific imperatives outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Islamic Relief Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation. As the global implementing and coordinating partner of the Islamic Relief family, it provides development programs and humanitarian relief around the globe, regardless of race, political affiliation, gender or belief. It is also a signatory to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief.
Read Islamic Declaration on Climate Change calls Muslims to support Paris meet in December 2015 for detailed report on “Islamic Declaration on Climate Change”