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Take the challengeA coalition of Muslim leaders, scholars and scientists has issued the 'Islamic declaration on global climate change' after a symposium in Istanbul last week.
The declaration, which calls not only on the world's 1.6 billion Muslims but peoples of all faiths, urges a world-wide phase out of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and a move towards a 100% renewable energy strategy.
“Our species, though selected to be a caretaker or steward (khalifah) on the earth, has been the cause of such corruption and devastation on it that were are in danger of ending life as we know it on our planet…We recognize that were are but a miniscule part of the divine order, yet within that order we are exceptionally powerful beings,” states the declaration.
Using religious authority to urge stronger action on climate change is a tactic that has also been employed by Pope Francis. Francis speaks frequently on environmental issues and has also gathered world leaders to put pressure on politicians in anticipation of the UN conference in Paris later this year.
Read more: 15 Inspiring quotes from Pope Francis on climate change
For people of Islamic faith - which unlike Catholicism is decentralised - the declaration, and its labelling of inactivity on climate change as a being in direct opposition to "God's creation of Earth in perfect equilibrium", and the responsibility of the earth's custodians to uphold this, is a global call out and an effort to mobilise the Muslim community worldwide.
It asks the important question, "What will future generations say of us, who leave them a degraded planet as our legacy?"
Read the full declaration here.
[Header Image: Islamic Relief]
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