Islamic leaders urge action on climate

This week, Islamic leaders from over 20 countries called on the 1.6 billion Muslims around to world to act on climate change. The declaration was released in anticipation of climate talks in Paris this December. It  urges world leaders to stop their use of fossil fuels and transition to a 100% renewable energy strategy: “the well-off nations and oil-producing states [need] to lead the way in phasing out their greenhouse gas emissions as early as possible and no later than the middle of the century.” The language also pushes leaders to lend aid to those communities most impacted by climate change—often Muslim communities. The declaration was released after a two-day meeting in Turkey organized by three religious-environmental groups: the Islamic Relief Worldwide, the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and GreenFaith. Following the Pope’s recently-released encyclical, this declaration rides on a wave of religious momentum. The Catholic Church commended the Muslim leaders for adding their voice to the environmental movement. Faith groups have historically been important influencers in social movements, and their recent efforts on climate change could catalyze action on climate change. Few Muslim countries have posted their plans for curbing climate change, and this declaration could push leaders in Islamic countries to become more involved in delivering a strong treaty in Paris. Earth Day Network stands with these courageous Islamic leaders committed to climate solutions.