Salamun alaykum,
What is COP27?
COP, which stands for "Conference of the Parties" are United Nations (UN) climate summits held every year. The parties are the attending countries that signed up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) agreement in 1992. Today is the final day of World leaders meeting for 27th session Conference of Parties (COP27) being held from 6th November, 2022 at Sharm el-Sheikh, Arab Republic of Egypt. An essential item at the conference is for governments to agree steps to limit global warming.
Greatest threat:
Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. Global temperatures have risen by 1.1C and are heading towards 1.5C.
The world is warming because of emissions produced by humans, mostly from burning fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. The consumer demand and immense industrialization of the developed world has contributed to pollution, greenhouse effect and depletion of ozone layer. The result of these activities by humans has dominantly caused climate change. Climate is the average weather in a place over many years. Climate change is a shift in those average conditions.
We need to understand the impact of climate change due to global warming. The impact of humans neglecting the environment is being felt all across the world. Record melting of ice, especially at the Earth’s poles is taking place resulting in faster sea level rise. Hurricanes and storms have become stronger whilst floods, forest fires and droughts have become common. The effects of a changing climate can also be seen in the plant and animal ecosystems. Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing mankind.
Why is COP27 important?
A landmark report by UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), affirms that,”..humanity is clearly responsible for more than half of the observed increase in temperatures.”
According to the IPCC, if temperatures rise 1.7 to 1.8C above 1850s (pre-industrial times) levels, the IPCC estimates that half the world’s population could be exposed to life-threatening heat and humidity. To prevent this, deliberations at Annual COP meetings focus on pursuit of worldwide efforts to limit the global temperature rises. Shouldn’t global endeavours be undertaken to limit temperature rises?
What does all this have to do with me as a Muslim?
“Adhere to the fitrah (original design) of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. There is no altering God’s creation, and this is the right path, though most people do not realise it” (Sura Ar Rum 30:30)
Our home, the Planet Earth is Allah’s Creation. Allah SWT has created the Earth with a specific balanced system for us to live in and prosper. The system that Allah SWT has created for us essentially provides us with the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and countless other blessings. However, it is imperative that we do not take any of these blessings for granted. This ayah highlights the importance of preserving this system and warns humanity against the unbeknown damage that they are causing to the natural balance that exists in the universe. We need to recognize the ways in which our collective lifestyles are causing damage to the planet by disturbing the natural balance of the world.
As Muslims you and I have a duty and responsibility to Allah and the future generations to do all that we can do to address the environmental degradation and climate change. Neglecting to care for the Divine trust and tuning out from this environmental crisis means that we are neglecting our moral responsibility as Khalif -stewards- to creations of Allah SWT.
“…do not waste. Surely He does not love the wasteful.” Al A’raaf 7:31
It is more important than ever for Muslims and all mankind to cease from neglecting to care for the Earth and the environment. Being environmentally friendly is an act of Ibada, servitude to Allah SWT and is rewarded amply. The greener we become in our lifestyles, the more muttaqi -pious- we become. Reducing our waste, valuing the resources around you, fair trade, caring for animals - all these are considered as eco-friendly acts. They are also acts of worship. Both the Quran and Noble Prophet Muhammad SAWW teach us to uphold trust and not to waste.
Let us not cause self-harm to our home, the Earth.
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah.
With salaams and duas,
Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat