Much of the critical global risks that humanity faces are linked to the triple planetary crises defined by the United Nations (UN) as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. For the inhabitants of Gaza and the West Bank, the unrelenting assault by Israel over the last 100 plus days, has now increased the volume of these risks manifold. The pollution of air, soil and water from one of the deadliest and most destructive bombing campaigns in modern warfare is now leading to a linked climate, environmental and health crisis. Lack of access to clean water, breathable air and functioning sanitation, are catalysts for the spread of illness, disease and death. The destruction of habitats is robbing Palestinian farmers and fisherfolk of their source of living. The climate impact of this war, which will include the costs of post-conflict reconstruction, must still be counted.

The scale of the climate impact of this war has produced more planet-warming gases than the annual emissions of 20 climate-vulnerable nations according to a recent study. The study estimated that Israel’s aerial bombardment and military response accounts for over 99% of the 281,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted in the first 60 days of the conflict. This is equivalent to burning at least 150,000 tonnes of coal. Hamas rockets fired into Israel during the same period, generated an estimated 713 tonnes, or the equivalent of burning 300 tonnes of coal. Given the magnitude of destruction of this war, all indications are that the climate costs of any post-conflict reconstruction will be immense.

Experts in mapping damage from warfare have assessed that Israel’s bombing campaign of heavily built-up residential areas in Gaza had, by early December 2023, already exceeded the damage from the allied bombings of Cologne and Dresden during the second world war. The Guardian reports that according to the UN, more than 65,000 residential housing units have been destroyed, with another 290,000 damaged by bombing and fighting. To put this into context, from a conservative estimate this equates to having the homes of more than 600,000 people destroyed in a UK city the size of Glasgow or Bristol, in the space of 90 days.

Whilst the world witnesses the devastation of 1000-pound bombs being dropped in densely populated residential areas, this might make one believe that harm is only visited upon the men, women and children living inside it, environmental pollution is less visible. The human costs are immense and growing. In the first 95 days, over 23,000 deaths, mainly women and children, and more than 50,000 seriously injured have been reported. An estimated 7,000 are missing and presumed dead, their bodies as yet unrecovered from under the rubble. Israel has forcibly displaced over 1.2 million people; and is effectively starving 2.2 million civilians by denying access to adequate food, water and medicine. All of this is happening in plain sight, whilst powerful nations ignore and even block the application of international humanitarian law.

The climate and environmental legacy of this war on the Occupied Palestine Territories is clearly another casualty of war, and one which will have multi-generational impacts for a nation living in one of the most climate vulnerable regions of the world. The truth is each one of us living on this planet will suffer a share of that harm. Humanity can choose to live in balance and harmony with the planet, or we can make choices that wreak great damage, and harm on people, the land, air and seas, and all the creatures with whom we share our world. The IFEES/EcoIslam adds our voice to those calling for an immediate ceasefire to the war in the Occupied Palestine Territories, and for urgent action to work for a peaceful, just and sustainable world. IFEES/EcoIslam hereby calls on citizens and governments to include calls for:

• Immediate provision of access to safe and adequate supply of water, sanitation, food and fuel needed to ensure social, economic and environmental health and wellbeing;
• Actions to halt widespread water and air pollution that is fuelling disease and illness and the prevention of further climate and environmental harm;
• Cessation of efforts to ethnically cleanse and relocate Palestinian people, occupying and seizing their land and other assets, effectively cutting off their connections to the land and seas they depend upon;
• Equitable application of international law, without fear or favour, to bring about peace and sustainability in the swiftest means. To reduce the human misery and the climate and environmental impact which this, and all conflicts, produce; and
• Reconstruction and restoration efforts, that address the climate and environmental impact of this war on the land, water and seas which form the bedrock of the economy and ecology in Palestine.

The calamity of innocent lives lost is obvious to all of humanity. What is less obvious is the environmental destruction and long-term climate harm created by this war. War has always had a visible human, material and financial cost. We now have the knowledge and understanding to shine a light on the hidden costs: the climate and environmental impacts of war that imperil the future of people and of the planet.

As IFEES/EcoIslam we seek to make more citizens aware that the immediate human misery is compounded by the insidious and long-term effects of the climate and environmental destruction being wreaked by wars, literally thrown up into the air by bombs and acquiescence by those who are in a position to influence outcomes. We call for peace, justice and sustainability for Palestine now!

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Joint Statement by National Muslim Organisations in the UK and Ireland

Download the full Statement

In the first- move of its kind, Muslims across the UK and Ireland have issued a united rallying call for world leaders to act decisively on the climate crisis.

With the crucial UN Climate talks in Glasgow – COP26 – only a month away, major Muslim organisations in the two countries issued a joint statement demanding climate justice, a just transition to a green economy and more support for the most vulnerable.

It is the first time such a coalition of major Muslim organisations has made a joint statement on climate and the environment – underwriting the unity of growing calls from faith organisations for climate justice.

The statement, issued on Monday 18th October, has been signed by 8 of the main national Muslim organisations in the UK and Ireland which represent a large number of the countries’ combined 2.7 million Muslim population.

It calls for world leaders at COP26 to:

• meet the Paris Agreement targets
• sign up to net-zero emissions targets
• end all subsidies for fossil fuels
• commit to a total greening of energy sources
• provide new funding to address climate-related loss and damage

The faith-led campaign builds on the statement released by the Vatican in early October, as well as the International Interfaith Day of Action, Faiths 4 Climate, taking place on the 17th and 18th of October.

Highlighting the importance of environmental sustainability in Islam, the joint signatories promise to reinvigorate their teachings, talks and sermons on the need for care for creation, as well as promoting Earth stewardship, sustainable living, the greening of mosques and reducing the use of natural resources.

They are also calling for politicians, community leaders and organisations to raise their voices for climate action on all available platforms; use their influence to hold local authorities and government to account; encourage others to include environmental sustainability in their strategic plans, and to work with all parties who are also committed to the cause.

The Director of EcoIslam, convenor and signatory to the joint statement, Kamran Shezad said: ‘The joint statement is a bold declaration on the need for urgency in the face of the climate crisis. British and Irish Muslims feel they, along with others in the many faith communities of these islands, have to stand up to be counted and demand that COP26 delivers for the most vulnerable, and a safer, greener, future for all’

Signatories for the statement include:

Dr Abdul Azim Ahmed
Secretary General – Muslim Council of Wales

Imam Qari Asim MBE
Chairman – Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board

Dr Muhammad Adrees
Secretary General – Muslim Council of Scotland

Shaykh Abdul Haq Bewley
Chairman – British Board of Scholars & Imams

Fadi Itani OBE
Chief Executive Officer – Muslim Charities Forum

Zara Mohammed
Secretary General – Muslim Council of Britain

Shaykh Dr Umar al Qadri
Chairman – Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council

Kamran Shezad
Director – Islamic Foundation for Ecology & Environmental Sciences

The post Muslims in UK & Ireland Unite for COP26 Climate Action<br><br><small>Joint Statement by National Muslim Organisations in the UK & Ireland</small> appeared first on IFEES.

Planet Earth – Allah’s Creation.

Allah has created the planet with a specific balanced system for us to live in and prosper.

“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”.
(Surah Ar Rum 30:30)

This ayah highlights the importance of preserving this system and warns humanity against the unbeknownst damage that they are causing to the natural balance that exists in the universe…

Click here to read the full Khutba

The post New Khutba Released:<br><br><small>Climate Action & Environmental Justice. Planet Earth – Allah’s Creation</small> appeared first on IFEES.

Al-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth presents an Islamic outlook of the environment in a bid to strengthen local, regional, and international actions that combat climate change and other threats to the planet. It is a global endeavour to engage Islamic scholars and Muslim institutions, including IFEES/EcoIslam, in the development and adoption of this Call.

For more information visit: Al-Mizan Website

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