From drought, rising sea levels, and extreme heat to air and water pollution, the Middle East and North Africa faces unprecedented impacts of climate change that are now felt in the daily lives of its inhabitants. As one of the parts of the world most affected by climate change, the MENA region is also invariably one of the most devout. This is why the Ummah for Earth initiative is drawing into an untapped resource in the climate change movement by utilizing the intersection of faith and environmentalism as a powerful force for advocacy and action, and to dispel the notion that science and faith are mutually exclusive.
With a mission to mobilize Muslim communities worldwide, the initiative leverages the core teachings of Islam to promote sustainable practices and climate justice. To better understand the vision of this faith-based initiative, we sat down with Nouhad Awwad, a prominent figure in the movement and a dedicated environmental activist.
Can you introduce Ummah for Earth and its objectives?
Ummah for Earth began in 2020 with five allied organizations, including, Global One, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Greenpeace Indonesia, IFEES/ EcoIslam, and Greenpeace MENA. We came together to create a climate movement within Muslim communities because these communities are heavily impacted by climate change, even though they are not major historical contributors to it. This is fundamentally about climate justice. We also wanted to amplify Muslim voices in international climate conversations, where they have been underrepresented.
We launched our project in October 2022, aiming to mobilize young Muslim environmental voices and provide them with a platform. Our initiatives include working on raising awareness, supporting community-led initiatives and advocacy on policy levels creating guides like the Green Guide for Hajj and Ramadan in multiple languages, and educating people on how to perform these rituals in an environmentally conscious manner.
What role do Islamic values play in your environmental initiatives?
Islamic values are central to our efforts. For instance, the principle of stewardship (Khilafa) teaches Muslims that they are responsible for protecting the Earth. Balance (Mizan) is another key concept, emphasizing the need to maintain ecological balance. Additionally, the wisdom (Hikmah) in using resources responsibly aligns perfectly with our environmental goals.
These values led to having the first-ever Fatwa on climate change in Indonesia on December 2023 as a collaboration between Ummah for Earth and Ulama council in the country. It is accessible on our website in English and Arabic.
U4E translated book, Last Generation, written by our ally Dr. Fachruddin M. Mangunjaya, integrates practical environmental knowledge with Islamic scientific theory, highlighting the role of Muslims in addressing global climate change.
As I can see on Ummah’s website, the Green Guide for Hajj and Umrah, Eco-conscious Ramadan Guide, and other books have been translated into several languages to be understood by all Muslims worldwide. Can you tell us more about your approach to knowledge production?
Our approach to knowledge production is rooted in making environmental education accessible and relevant to Muslim communities worldwide, as well as bridging faith and science. We produce thorough guides with the help of imams and experts on topics very specific to Muslims, such as our guides for Hajj and Ramadan, which are designed to show how these important religious practices can be performed in an eco-friendly manner. These guides are easily accessible online for anyone on the internet. We make sure to have these guides translated into multiple languages, making them accessible to a diverse audience and understood by the majority of Muslims.
Our online campaigns are deeply rooted in scientific evidence along with religion. We aim to show that religious teachings and scientific understanding can work hand in hand to protect the environment. By emphasizing that Islam encourages the protection of the Earth and aligns with scientific principles, we dispel the notion that faith and science are mutually exclusive.
So these guides and campaigns are exclusively online?
Digital advocacy is one of the big activities Ummah for Earth carries out. We extensively use our website and Greenpeace social media to disseminate our guides and educational materials, helping us spread our message widely and amplify our reach. However, we also work offline to create clusters of allies and advocate for environmental issues at big events. For instance, we work closely with imams and religious scholars to produce the knowledge we talked about and collaborate in implementing green khutbahs (sermons).
Offline workshops and training sessions are also part of our activities, aiming to enhance the efficiency of our online campaigns. For example, we have organized workshops for travel agencies in Tripoli, Lebanon, to teach them how to use our guides effectively. We also did a workshop for Imams working with pilgrims during Hajj in the Akkar area in Lebanon on the guide. We also collaborate with local communities in Indonesia to spread awareness about our environmental initiatives.
Our initiative is also actively present at significant international conferences like COP26 and COP28 to ensure that Muslim voices are represented in global climate discussions. By attending these events, we advocate for climate justice and push for systemic changes, such as increased investment in renewable energy.
You talked about imams as allies. How receptive have religious leaders and scholars been to your message?
Many religious leaders and scholars have been very receptive. The key is to communicate with them in a way that resonates with their values. Instead of presenting rigid statistics, we frame our message around Islamic teachings. For example, we remind them of the Prophet Muhammad’s advice not to waste water even when beside a flowing river and his view that planting a tree is a form of charity. This “hook” speaks to their hearts and aligns with their daily lives and beliefs. Now, imams are a great asset to our activities, and we collaborate to achieve our initiative’s big objectives.
Now that you know the hook to each of your segments, how do you deal with the MENA communities?
The main reason why Ummah for Earth was created is to create a space where people in our region can use their voices to express their needs and worries and discuss solutions for climate-related impacts. We have our own values, educated people, and religious beliefs that guide us. We know what needs to be done, and we don’t need to mimic solutions from anywhere else. Instead, the world should listen to us. Our approach must be tailored to our specific circumstances, using culturally relevant methods and ensuring that our efforts are scientifically sound and effective at driving change on multiple levels.
This is why we make sure to use Arabic extensively in our communications to reach the audience segments from our region effectively. This local approach helps us address specific regional issues, such as waste management and water pollution, in ways that are meaningful and actionable for our communities.
Some religious people tend to be skeptical about their role in addressing climate change. How do you respond to skeptics who believe that addressing climate change is solely in God’s hands?
It’s essential to acknowledge that while natural disasters have always occurred, their frequency and severity have increased due to human activities. Historical responsibility for emissions lies predominantly with the industrialized North. The Qur’an teaches us that Allah created a balanced world and instructed us to maintain that balance. If we fail to do so, we are neglecting our duty as stewards of the Earth.
The idea that God will automatically rectify our wrongdoings without any effort on our part is flawed. Islam teaches that we must act responsibly and make efforts to preserve the environment.
Many Arab youths don’t identify themselves as Muslims. How do you engage with non-religious segments of the Muslim community?
Our content, while grounded in religious values, appeals to a broad audience, including those who may not identify as strictly religious. Many people, even if not personally devout, are part of religious families and can relate to values that resonate with their cultural heritage. We emphasize traditional practices that many can connect with regardless of their level of religious observance. Our reach can sometimes go further than we think and connect people with different backgrounds and upbringings together. For instance, when we posted about the Quffa, the woven market bag of North Africans, as an alternative to single-use plastic bags, we had many users interacting with us to tell us about an equivalent they have in their local society. We learned that in Iraq, as in Pakistan, the Quffa was frequently used until recent times.
Main Photo Credits: Sam Tarling for NPR
