This group is breaking down barriers to nature for Muslim students — one classroom at a time

Aim is help students make connections between sustainable habits and their cultural values.

A group of students note observations during a field trip to Dundas Valley Conservation Area in Hamilton. The trip was made possible by Green Ummah, a non-profit geared to creating an environmental movement within the Canadian Muslim community. (Studio Fadeelah)

A non-profit geared to creating an environmental movement within the Canadian Muslim community has taken its work inside the classroom. The aim is to help students make connections between sustainable habits and their cultural values.

Aadil Nathani, co-founder of Green Ummah — ummah means community in Arabic — said the group was created to help address under-representation in environmental causes among Muslim people as well as other racialized groups.

The organization worked with teachers and the environmental organization Nature Canada to develop a two-week curriculum program taught in both private Islamic school settings and public schools in communities with higher rates of racialized and newcomer Canadians. It's called the Greening Our Communities toolkit. 

Nathani told Laura Lynch, host of CBC Radio's What on Earth, he believes the program is the only one in the world with ready-to-teach packages designed for teachers to engage their students on the topics of Islam and the environment, as well as environmental justice.

"We see these students as the future leaders in the world," said Nathani, who also acts as the group's director of operations and partnerships, and is a lawyer for a Toronto firm by day.

"If we can teach them about their role and responsibility in the environment early, the hope is that when they get into these positions of power later on, they will remember their teachings and act in a more careful and meticulous manner than a lot of folks have been doing for the past hundred-plus years." 

Costs for the outing were covered by Nature Canada. School trips like this often carry a fee that can put them out of reach, especially at schools with high numbers of racialized and newcomer Canadians, said Aadil Nathani, Green Ummah's co-founder. (Studio Fadeelah)

Costs for the outing were covered by Nature Canada. School trips like this often carry a fee that can put them out of reach, especially at schools with high numbers of racialized and newcomer Canadians, said Aadil Nathani, Green Ummah's co-founder. (Studio Fadeelah)

He said Muslim communities in Canada have had limited capacity to get involved with environmental movements — and for good reason.

"I've grown up in a post-9/11 world where a lot of the concerns for the Muslim community have been, first and foremost, safety and security within Canada, within the United States," Nathani said, who resides in Scarborough, Ont, a Toronto suburb. 

He points to tragedies in recent years when Islamophobia has erupted in deadly violence, such as the London, Ont., truck attack by Nathaniel Veltman, who killed four members of the Afzaal family in 2021, and the mosque shooting by Alexandre Bissonnette, who killed six people in 2017.

So far, the curriculum program has been run in Ontario high schools and workshopped at the middle-school level. But Nathani says the group's mandate is national, with online resources such as its Green Ramadan program available to anyone in Canada. The group is also hosting events in Alberta and B.C., including one happening this month with the non-profit NatureKids B.C.

Aadil Nathani is the co-founder and director of operations and partnerships for Green Ummah. (Submitted by Aadil Nathani)

Breaking down barriers to outdoor spaces

Nathani says the "coolest part" about the school-based program is the organization's partnership with Nature Canada, which bills itself as one of the oldest national nature conservation charities in Canada.

Funding from that group's NatureHood program has paid to send students on field trips to national wildlife areas, migratory bird sanctuaries or urban nature sites, such as Rouge National Urban Park in Toronto's east end, he said. 

• Conversations about climate change can quickly go south. Here are 6 ways to make them better

"This has been really unique for us because we also know that newcomer and racialized Canadians face barriers to accessing nature in Canada," said Nathani.

"So we've been able to break those barriers down entirely and actually just send students to do activities in nature spaces, which is great because it builds that connection to the environment and will hopefully lead to the students becoming environmental stewards in the future."

A student from Windsor Islamic High School offers a bowl of seeds to some geese on a field trip to Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Kingsville, Ont., about 45 kilometres outside of Windsor. (Submitted by Green Ummah)

Yavar Mirza, a Grade 11 student from Gibraltar Leadership Academy, an Islamic private school in Toronto, said the two-week program changed the way he views the environment.

"I began to see the natural world not just as, like, a resource for us, but something that is sacred," he said. "It made me realize that climate change is not just a scientific issue. It's a spiritual and moral responsibility that we all have together." 

Mirza says, moving forward, he's committed to upholding the principles that he learned, such as "khilafah, which is basically a stewardship, and amana, which is like a trust that we have to protect the earth." For one thing, Mirza said he plans to be more conscious of his environmental impact by making sustainable choices.

"I would also want to focus on climate justice, especially advocating for solutions that support Indigenous communities and others that are affected by climate change."

Beyond doom and gloom

Nathani says the program was designed to address the problem of students hearing "so much doom and gloom," leading to environmental and climate anxiety. 

"We wanted to let them feel like, yes, there are problems, but we can all collectively be part of the solution," he said.

Anees Chugtai, also in Grade 11 at Gibraltar, said that came through loud and clear.

"The program made me feel a lot more hopeful about humanity's rebuttal against climate change," he said.

"Before the program, I always thought, you know, that the world was just going downhill [and] that we weren't doing anything."

Lilian Tu, a teacher and science department head at Milliken Mills High School in Markham, Ont., said being able to access funds for field trips in nature has been a boon for students at the school. (Submitted by Lilian Tu)

Lilian Tu, a science teacher and department head at Milliken Mills High School in Markham, Ont., said the school has tapped into Green Ummah's curriculum and outdoor education resources for a couple of years.

She said the school is in one of York Region's lowest-income neighbourhoods, which sometimes means participation in field trips — which often carry a fee paid for by families — is out of reach. She said Green Ummah was able to fund "an amazing field trip at an outdoor centre," which was a first for many of her students.  

Then last semester, Green Ummah funded a tree planting outing facilitated by Friends of the Rouge Watershed in Toronto's east end. Tu said many of the students weren't aware that this natural area was so nearby, and that it was empowering for them to learn that by planting a couple of trees, they could be capturing a lifetime of carbon for a family.

"So these kids made a significant contribution [through] this one-day field trip."

But the other great thing to see was the kids just having a good time together outside.

"They're creating spaces for trees to grow and making a huge difference, but they're also just playing as well."

Brandie Weikle is a writer and editor for CBC Radio based in Toronto. She joined CBC in 2016 after a long tenure as a magazine and newspaper editor. Brandie covers a range of subjects but has special interests in health, family and the workplace. You can reach her at brandie.weikle@cbc.ca.

This piece was originally published on CBC Radio - What on Earth on October 6th 2024.

Mobilizing Faith and Spirit for the Climate Crisis

About the Speaker

Sameer Merchant spent two decades as a software engineer in Seattle and Vancouver working for Microsoft, Hulu, and Tableau. He is currently taking an extended sabbatical to get a better understanding of the climate crisis, what we can do to reduce our individual and collective contributions to the problem, and to understand the psychology behind climate denial and climate inaction. His faith tradition is Ismaili Muslim, which is central to his views on humanity’s role as stewards of the Earth.

About the Series: Mobilizing Faith and Spirit for the Climate Crisis 

Every day we are reminded that we are in a climate emergency. Unprecedented heat waves, droughts, fires, extreme weather events, floods, refugees – the list goes on. Taken together with the current pandemic, it’s understandable that many of us feel frightened, overwhelmed, powerless.  Where can we find the individual and collective strength to clearly face the truth of the emergency, mourn the damage being done to our blue planet, and inspire ourselves and others to action?

The Vancouver Unitarians are hosting a series of talks by prominent Canadians from faith, spiritual and secular backgrounds to support us in answering that question.  They will educate, nourish, and inspire us, drawing on diverse faith and spiritual traditions including those of Indigenous peoples. They will delve into how these traditions and practices, and the values they represent, help them contend with the climate emergency and the actions they are taking.  And, in this way, they will help us engage more effectively with the crisis and create our way forward to a sustainable future – for ourselves and our families, our communities, our nation, and for the health of our loved ones and our planet.

About the Format and Venue

The speaker series is being live-streamed from the campus of the Vancouver Unitarians to audiences online and in-person in the Sanctuary. Two Vancouver Unitarians are moderating the series – introducing the speakers, leading discussions after each talk, and providing continuity over the course of the full program.  The series will include occasional panel discussions of key themes and learnings from what we heard. 

All events in this series are being held in the Sanctuary at UCV. It is recognized as a remarkable mid-twentieth century architectural legacy – a well-received spiritual gathering place and a civic gathering place for events in the arts, public affairs, and discourse on the issues of the day.

Windsor teacher promotes green themes during Ramadan

A Windsor Islamic High School teacher recently taught her students about sustainability through a curriculum from the group Green Ummah. (Aastha Shetty/CBC News)

Protecting Mother Nature is an important theme in Islam, and a Windsor teacher is helping her students make the connection during Ramadan. 

Shaymaa Zantout helps lead green initiatives at the Windsor Islamic High School. She says one of the central ideas in Islam is that human beings were created as khalifa — stewards or guardians of the land.

"So, there's a huge emphasis on being caretakers of the land and the environment that surrounds us, because it's seen as this trust... that we've been entrusted with by our creator. And so the connection there is really significant and I think one that we're trying to instill in the students at our school as well."

She's working with a group called Green Ummah, which developed a curriculum for students in partnership with Nature Canada.

The group was founded by students, including some from Windsor, to promote an environmental movement within the Muslim community.

Shaymaa Zantout, a teacher at Windsor Islamic High School, speaks with CBC Windsor Morning host Peter Duck about how caring for nature is a spiritual responsibility.

"We had the opportunity to participate in activities, go on a field trip...out into nature. We got to write letters to our school administration asking for some changes to be made to make our school more eco-friendly," she said.

"So we're trying to make it very hands on, thanks to this program. And even now that that curriculum, we've finished studying it, we're still incorporating some of those teachings throughout all our lessons."

The Green Ummah website says its lesson plans for teachers are solutions-oriented. Students, the organization says, already bring creativity, energy and innovative thinking to green issues.

"Our hope is to provide middle school and high school students an intersectional understanding of the environmental movement, equip them with methodologies to build sustainable and equitable solutions, and create opportunities for digital collaboration between Muslim youth across Canada," stated the website.

Zantout says that faith provides a useful lens to look at issues like the environment because people may not get to see the impact they made during their lifetime.

"But the idea is, whether you see the results or not ... this servitude as part of your relationship with God," she said.

This piece was originally published on CBC News on April 9 2022.

Green Ummah Launches New Curriculum for Muslim Youth

In October, Islamic schools implemented a new curriculum to help Muslim high school students learn about environmental stewardship and advocacy. It’s a curriculum that could appear in schools across the country.

Green Ummah, a non-profit organization focused on creating a green movement in the Muslim community, developed and launched the Greening Our Communities Toolkit, with the help of teachers. The curriculum will teach youth about the climate-and-biodiversity crisis, environmental racism and justice, and Islamic perspectives on the environment. 

“We need to start getting racialized, marginalized youth into spaces in nature. We need to be the ones to break down those barriers ourselves, for these kids,” says Aadil Nathani, co-founder of Green Ummah.

“They’re already engaged with what’s happening with the climate,” he adds. “They already have a little bit of climate anxiety, eco-anxiety, to go along with all of the other anxiety that they deal with. If we can get them right into nature with relevant programs, with a way for them to understand and find a care for nature or love for nature, that’s also going to help the climate movement in the future.” 

A student at Gibraltar Leadership academy works on an activity that is part of the toolkit.

Gibraltar Leadership Academy (Scarborough), Safa and Marwa School (Mississauga), and Windsor Islamic High School (known as WIHS) are the first schools to implement the new curriculum, which is taught in the Geography and Islamic Studies classes. Teachers can use the toolkit for any grade at the high school level.

Rejaa Ali, a teacher at Gibraltar, says a lot of the information in the toolkit is refreshing. Shaymaa Zantout, who teaches at WIHS, says the content has been enriching her lessons. Both teachers expressed that students are making a lot of personal connections with the toolkit as compared to other classroom settings. 

HOW STUDENTS AT GIBRALTAR ARE RESPONDING 

“Everything we’ve talked about is curriculum based, but being able to connect with it from your own value systems, that’s a big deal, because that knowledge stays with you forever and you’re way more engaged,” says Ali. 

The modules include topics on what it means to be green, and students get to analyze their own worldview and learn about other worldviews, going beyond the eurocentric view and encouraging students to learn different perspectives.

“Many of the students have never really been exposed to perspectives outside of a colonial perspective in terms of just knowledge. So they’re responding to the toolkit with a lot of interest,” Ali says. 

A completed mind map activity done by a student at Gibraltar Leadership Academy, in the class taught by Ali.

“We’ve been studying Indigenous traditional knowledge and a lot of them were able to connect that to their own forms of traditional knowledge that’s been passed down in their own families, or even within Islamic heritage. Practices that are not typically perceived as science based, but have a lot of history involved in their right.” 

Ali hopes that with the material they learn through the toolkit, students will be able to take action and implement what they’ve learned to make a positive change, for example, thinking about their own carbon footprint and how they can decrease it, as opposed to feeling guilt. 

“There’s a lot of passion involved. The more knowledgeable you are of events that are happening in the world, then you come with a lot of energy.” 

HOW THE TOOLKIT IS HELPING STUDENTS AT WIHS 

“This really aligns well with what I’ve been wanting to do, which is incorporating more personal elements where they can actually connect with the material,” says Zantout. 

Zantout says she believes faith is an important lens to see the world through, acknowledging that one should be mindful of their surroundings and how much emphasis is put on the environment. 

“I love the opportunities where they can tie themselves to the most intrinsic level to the content, like your role as a Muslim. It’s not just a label you slap onto yourself — how are you actively playing a role within your identity to better the environment?” 

Zantout says many students come in with a rigid view of what geography is and how it relates to them. 

“Geography is really closely tied to many aspects of their life. There are so many perspectives that you need in order to understand geography,” she says, adding that she hopes students take away lessons of mindfulness about their role and their impact on the environment.

Green Ummah hopes to spread this toolkit to more schools, including non-Islamic ones, and will collect feedback after this first phase. 

This piece was originally published on Nature Canada on November 19, 2021.

Greening Canadian Mosques: Program Launch

By Saba Khan

In partnership with EnviroMuslims and with generous funding from Olive Tree Foundation, Faith & the Common Good has launched Greening Canadian Mosques, the first program of its kind giving Canadian mosques the tools and resources they need to embed sustainable practices and policies within their facilities.

As is the case for many religions, Islam holds a high regard for environmental stewardship and the important role humans have as stewards of the planet. Muslims all over the world have a religious duty to learn about environmental issues and make changes both individually and collectively to protect the natural environment. While there is growing interest from Islamic leaders and mosques in Canada to engage on the matter, there is limited targeted guidance and support for them to lead the way on environmental stewardship. 

The Greening Canadian Mosques program aims to support Canadian mosques in developing and implementing environmentally friendly practices and policies. The program consists of two main resources:

 Toolkit: The toolkit features key statistics and Islamic references on environmental issues, helpful resources, inspiring case studies, and creative ideas to make mosques more environmentally and economically sustainable – reducing their impact on the environment while contributing to the well-being of local communities. The toolkit consists of different areas that mosques can focus their efforts on including waste management, water stewardship, energy conservation, sustainable transportation, community engagement, event management and environmentally conscious efforts towards greening the holy month of Ramadan. Each of these sections are divided into tangible actions that can be taken depending on their relevant costs (no-cost, low-cost, and high-cost). The toolkit also consists of policy templates, action plans, and resources to help gain the support of senior leadership.

Communications Package: The communications package consists of graphics and word templates to help mosques showcase their leadership and participation in the program. These consist of templates for newsletters and websites, as well as social media templates and graphics to communicate participation in the program.

Another important feature of the communications package is the addition of multilingual posters that can be displayed in Canadian mosques. The posters are in Somali, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic and Gujrati, and cater to the diverse Canadian Muslim population.

The Greening Canadian Mosques program is a call to action for Muslim community leaders to embed policies and practices within their mosques centering around the protection of the natural environment, and to encourage their Muslim congregations and community members to uphold their roles as stewards of the environment – protecting it from harm and leaving it in a state better than how we found it, for our future generations.

This piece was originally published on Faith and the Common Good on May 17 2021.

30 streets in 30 days: Ottawa man aiming for clean sweep during holy month

Jamal Alsharif is on a personal mission to clean up Ottawa, one street at a time.

Alsharif started the initiative a decade ago. During Ramadan, he challenges himself to pick up trash along 30 neighbourhood streets in 30 days.

It's about, "doing our part for keeping our environment, keeping our city, keeping our neighbourhood clean," he said.

To prepare, Alsharif prints out a map of his Riverside South community, then picks one street each day, checking them off when he's done.

Typically, he finds a lot of coffee cups, plastic and glass, but he's also found eyeglasses and even knives. This year, he's picking up a lot of discarded masks — 20 of them in a single day — as well as bottles of sanitizer.

Inspiring others at home and abroad

Alsharif's 14-year-old son often grabs a garbage bag and pitches in.

"I try to teach my son that we live in a community that we have to protect. If we want to change the world, we have to change ourselves," Alsharif said.

Alsharif, who identifies as Palestinian-Jordanian, was born in Libya and came to Canada in 2009. He's currently the president of a non-profit called Humans for Peace Institution. 

Alsharif said word of his cleanup campaign has spread through his social media channels, and people have picked up the challenge everywhere from Gatineau, Que., where he started the initiative, to Jordan and Morocco.

When he's out cleaning his neighbourhood, Alsharif said passersby often stop to ask what he's doing. Sometimes they even offer to help.

"We have to stand together, we have to clean our community together," he said.

This piece was originally published on CBC News on April 15 2021.

How a new initiative is mobilizing Muslims to help save the planet

Earlier this year, the Faith for Earth Initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a global push to bring together Islamic institutions from around the world in a bid to combat pollution, climate change and other threats to the planet. Called Mizan, Arabic for “balance”, the charter is designed to showcase Islam’s teachings on the environment and spur the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims to embrace sustainability as part of their everyday lives.

We recently spoke with the head of the effort, Iyad Abumoghli, who is also the director of the Faith for Earth Initiative, about Mizan and its lofty ambitions.

For centuries, Islam has called on followers to protect the environment, says UNEP’s Iyad Abumoghli. Photo: Unsplash / Abdullah Faraz

UNEP: Why is this initiative important?

Iyad Abumoghli: The sacred scripture in the Quran, the practices of Prophet Mohammad and the teachings of Islam all urge humanity to value and protect nature. But those lessons are largely unknown to many Muslims, including how they relate to contemporary environmental issues, such as climate change, ecosystem destruction and overconsumption. Mizan is designed to change that – and encourage Muslims to do all they can to safeguard the planet.

UNEP: Why is that necessary now?

IA: The planet is facing multiple crises, including pollution, climate change, and environmental destruction. In many places, we’re losing our connection to nature. In addition to science and state policies, people need spiritual guidance on environmental issues, which will create a sense of responsibility for nature. Mizan will help provide a set of authoritative standards for Muslims to follow in their daily lives. 

UNEP: Other religions are also embracing environmentalism, aren’t they?

IA: Yes. In 2015, Pope Francis launched Laudato Si, a papal encyclical that urged Catholics to care for what he called our “common home”, the Earth. Other faith leaders, including Buddhists, Hindus, Baha’is and Jews, have issued declarations on climate change. There are also interfaith commitments to address specific issues, such as biodiversity loss and rainforest destruction. But it’s important to note that these initiatives are not new. Religious texts and faith leaders have for centuries been urging their followers to protect the environment.

UNEP: Which organizations are involved in Mizan?

IA: We are partnering with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Uskudar University in Istanbul, the Qur'anic Botanic Garden and the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.

Pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Unsplash / Ömer F. Arslan

UNEP: When are you planning to roll out Mizan?

IA: The draft charter is expected to be ready in March 2021. It will be distributed to more than 300 Islamic institutions around the world for feedback. After finalization, Mizan will be submitted to the Islamic Council of Environment Ministers for adoption in October 2021. The consultative process and adoption are essential as we are aiming for Mizan to be a global spiritual reference, a plan of action for individuals as well as institutions.

UNEP: Can you tell us a little more about UNEP’s Faith for Earth Initiative?

IA: Since its launch in 2017, Faith for Earth has collaborated with representatives of more than 15 religions, highlighting how these faiths can mobilize the power of their followers and address some of the gravest threats to the planet. Along with organizing major conferences, we help religious leaders develop practical steps their followers can take to fight air pollution, protect biodiversity and limit plastic pollution. We also work with religious institutions, who are often major investors, to green their assets and reduce their environmental footprint.

UNEP: What are your long-term hopes for Mizan?

IA: We think it could be a game changer. There are about 4 million mosques around the world. If we could, for example, install solar panels on these houses of worship, we could prevent 12 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. As well, every year 10 million people take part in Islam’s two major pilgrimages, the Hajj and the Umrah. If we could make those a little greener, by encouraging pilgrims to avoid single-use plastics, for example, it could make a substantial difference. Bigger picture, we are ultimately hoping that more faith-based organizations will take Mizan as a guiding principle and mobilize action. We also aspire that Mizan will help foster an understanding between religions that we have a common responsibility towards the Earth.

For more information on Mizan, visit UNEP’s Faith for Earth Initiative or contact Iyad Abumoghli at iyad.abumoghli@un.org

Corporate Knights Recognizes IDRF with Sustainability Award

Even in the midst of the pandemic, young people are leading the push to a better world. They're mobilizing and taking to the streets, and as future leaders themselves, they are bringing with them creativity and energy that will usher in a more equitable and caring green economy.  

When Corporate Knights opened up nominations for this years' 30 under 30 award, they were overwhelmed with the response of talented youth who are challenging the status quo. Among them was Nabil Ali, Director of Programs with the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF).

The IDRF has been a leader within Muslim community, working to alleviate the suffering of those in need across the world. Nabil has personally been involved in humanitarian projects in Somalia and Bangladesh, and helped the organization pivot to provide assistance during the pandemic.

"In 2020 we face unprecedented global health and economic challenges, as well as greater awareness of racial injustice. Nevertheless, with my colleagues' support at IDRF and stakeholders across the world, we have mobilized to provide humanitarian assistance for communities impacted by COVID-19 and expanded our programming to empower BIPOC youth nationwide" said Nabil when announcing the win.

"I'm honoured to be a part of this year's list. Congratulations to all the leaders recognized for the inspiring work that they perform every day."

Rising for the Ummah Starts with the Youth

“The Ummah must recognise its responsibility for a green sustainable planet and work together to create it for all humanity.”

Dr. Husna Ahmad- Global One – Ummah for Earth Ally

Amongst the many blessings God has granted us, is the Ummah we belong to. One vibrant with energetic youth and huge capabilities that can bring about remarkable change towards a better future. An Ummah that has the power to create a new reality if it chooses to come together and work hand in hand to create more just, safe and sustainable societies. 

Rising from this, the “Ummah for Earth” alliance has come together..  Connecting with Muslim communities that are most burdened by global crises, especially the climate crisis, and we will seek to bring their concerns forward and create a platform to make their voices heard.

“It felt natural for us to join this alliance, amplifying Muslims’ calls for better care of the earth and each other”

Mark Bryant – IFEES/EcoIslam” 

To fulfill our role as caretakers of the Earth, we have to come to realize the importance of being an Ummah that invests in its ability to protect our  earth. An Ummah that acts in accordance with our teachings and values, one that knows that change is not only possible, but is also our  duty.

Change not only comes on the individual level, but also on the collective level. This requires us to reconsider how our world is currently operating and how it is structured. The world has proved its fragility. The COVID-19 outbreak exposed the weak healthcare systems, dire economic challenges and increased unemployment rates and the climate crisis. All of which are threatening the lives of millions around the Muslim world. With every catastrophe, we witness huge losses and damages incurred by frontline communities , particularly our  most vulnerable who pay the highest price.

‘We have one planet and a shared earth that we must all inhabit. It is only when we come together, that we can begin to tackle the issue of climate change and it vulnerabilities, as humanity and as one Ummah’

Shahin Ashraf – IRW

On the other side, with these crises emerged heartwarming displays of compassion and genuine response. In the midst of catastrophic situations, such as the  COVID pandemic, the Beirut explosion and recent floods in Sudan and Indonesia, we saw numerous volunteer contributions and humanitarian campaigns supporting victims and neighbours helping neighbours. Proving once again that our Ummah is rich with courage and integrity, and its people rush to support the vulnerable and those in need when the situation arises.

We are striving for change, a systemic one that prioritizes social justice, equal opportunities and a better planet. A change driven by the Muslim youth, who are the leading force for a brighter future. 

Together, joining forces to rise for the Ummah from the Ummah.

This piece was originally published on Ummah for Earth on October 26th 2020.

How Greening Sacred Spaces Energy Benchmarking Program Can Help Mosques Fight Climate Change in Ottawa

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the social fabric of our communities by exposing how some of the most important members of our community, for example the working poor and elderly, are disproportionately affected and made vulnerable by the pandemic’s effects. However, throughout this challenging time, we have also seen how the strength of our faith communities has brought hope and relief to those most impacted by this virus. Faith leaders and faith communities are playing a crucial role in providing essential services to people in terms of food, shelter, medical supplies, companionship and counselling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Climate change, brought about by the warming of our planet through the accumulation of greenhouse gasses (GHGs), is another serious challenge faced by society in which our faith communities can provide leadership and service to its communities. While, for many, faith organizations do not immediately come to mind as leaders of environmental sustainability, there are lessons that can be learned from spiritual teachings.

For example, in Islam the concept of “mizan” speaks to the importance of balance in one’s life, spiritually and in one’s relationships with others. The concept can be extended to include ecological balance and the importance of being good environmental stewards by protecting one of God’s most valuable gifts to man, our home, the Earth. As well, the Quran (21:32) states the following: "And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away."

In 2015, Islamic leaders, senior international development policy makers, and academics signaled to Muslims in their Islamic Declaration on Climate Change the importance of not turning away from our need to help the planet. These Islamic leaders and thinkers encouraged an active role in combatting climate change and working together towards reducing GHG emissions in order to create a climate resilient future.

Faith & the Common Good (FCG) is an organization that has heeded this call through its Greening Sacred Spaces (GSS) program. This long running program is designed to assist faith communities of all backgrounds with both the educational and spiritual dimensions of “greening” in the spaces used by the faithful for worship.

In 2019 Greening Sacred Spaces launched its Energy Benchmarking Program (EBP) in Ottawa. The EBP is designed to help communities play a role in mitigating climate change by encouraging practical and cost-effective activities that can be implemented by faith leaders and the faithful. This includes raising awareness of the harm caused by damaging our “protective ceiling” and by taking pragmatic steps such as examining the carbon footprint of our shared places of worship and implementing energy saving practices.

Understanding your current energy use is the first step in reducing it — you can’t manage your energy use if you don’t measure what your use is in the first place. Greening Sacred Spaces Ottawa is seeking participants for a free Energy Benchmarking program fully funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, City of Ottawa and Sustainable Capacity Foundation to help faith communities lower and track their energy use and emissions.

Energy benchmarking refers to the process of measuring a building’s energy performance against its past performance and other similar buildings. Because buildings typically account for 42% of a faith community’s carbon footprint, understanding your energy consumption is a vital first step to creating a greener, more sustainable community. Benchmarking provides information that enables you to more accurately assess the effectiveness of your energy-saving measures and better plan for future projects. In addition, it supports financial stewardship: benchmarked buildings on average reduce usage by 2.4% annually.

The Energy Benchmarking Program (EBP) was first launched as a pilot in Toronto in 2017 and has since successfully reached over a hundred GTA communities. Toronto area mosques have already seen benefits from participating, including Masjid Toronto. Thornhill's Jaffari Islamic Centre participated in the EBP as part of York Region. In 2019, the Jaffari Community Centre was presented with Faith and the Common Good's York Region Sustainability Award which is given to a faith-community in York Region in recognition of notable efforts to embed environmental sustainability actions within their community. Both mosques represent are good examples green-minded communities hoping to do their part to invest cost savings back into the communities, as well as participate in protecting the Earth.

In Ottawa, a total of 50 faith communities will receive an annual benchmarking reports. Data is compiled using the Energy Star Portfolio Manager® online tool – the same program used by Natural Resources Canada – to create a baseline report that shows your faith community how much money your energy use has cost for your building and information about your greenhouse gas emissions. What you choose to do with these reports is up to your faith community, however we are also here to answer any questions or concerns that the energy reports raise and link you to evidence based information on what your next steps might be.

In this respect the EBP program also provides participants with additional resources including energy-efficiency tools, links to energy audit funding, information on energy-saving incentives, and educational workshops. Our objective is to work closely alongside communities in identifying means of decreasing energy consumption.

To find out more about the EBP or to sign up your faith organization, visit https://www.faithcommongood.org/energy_benchmarking or contact Dr. Ruth Bankey at rbankey@faithcommongood.org or Emine Turgut at gssenergyy@faithcommongood.org.

This piece was originally published on Muslim Link on September 8th 2020.

Grassroots Windsor group calls on Canadian Muslims to think green this Ramadan

Green Ummah was co-founded by students from the University of Windsor — including law student Aadil Nathani

As Muslims across Canada continue to fast during the holy month of Ramadan, a new grassroots community group in Windsor is calling on all Muslims to keep the environment top of mind when practising their faith. 

Dubbed "Green Ummah," the group was in part founded by students at the University of Windsor, and derives its name from the Arabic word for community.

"Green is self-explanatory," said Aadil Nathani, a third-year law student at the University of Windsor, and one of Green Ummah's founders, adding that Ummah is a term used to refer to the Muslim community. 

According to Nathani, the group's goal is to address "what we see as a holistic, intersectional approach that's needed to tackle something like climate change."

"And each community will deal with it differently," he said. 

For example, Nathani pointed out that Muslims can easily reduce their environmental impact by limiting the amount of water consumed during the Wudhu purification process prior to praying five times each day.

"The tap is typically running for about two minutes while you're doing wudhu, so we've encouraged people during the first week of our Ramadan challenge to conserve water during the time they're doing their wudhu," he said. "Instead of having the tap on full-blast, just have it run on half the blast of water that you can have."

Throughout Ramadan, Nathani said his organization has four overall goals, including conserving water, reducing food waste, and reducing energy consumption and one's overall carbon footprint. 

"Then for the last week of Ramadan, we're getting into a project where we want folks to start engaging with nature a little bit more," Nathani said. 

We want them to start getting out to the parks — once the parks get open obviously — while practising social distancing.

In addition to encouraging environmentally friendly thinking throughout Ramadan, Nathani said Green Ummah is also advocating for green gifts during the Eid celebrations that mark the end of Ramadan.

"Come the end of Ramadan, you have Eid, which is the celebration of Ramadan," he said. "It's customary to give out gifts to the young ones and to family members and loved ones."

Nathani said his group is partnering with local gardening stores to "provide discounts on seeds and garden kits to keep you busy throughout the summer."

He added that Green Ummah hoped to have more direct contact with mosques during Ramadan, but physical distancing rules brought on by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have it difficult to do so. 

There is also an Islamic responsibility that we're trying to hone in on and touch ...- Aadil Nathan, Co-Founder, Green Ummah

"There's a large Muslim population in Ontario and in Canada — about one million Muslims in Canada," he said. "So we have a huge potential for impact here, if each person starts thinking in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way."

Nathani added that Imam Youseh Wahb with the Windsor Islamic Association is one of Green Ummah's founding members.

"As well as a human responsibility, there is also an Islamic responsibility that we're really trying to hone in on and touch, so that we can reach all of the different generations and start getting entire homes to be more sustainable and think more environmentally friendly," Nathani said. 

Early responses to the initiative have been promising, Nathani said, with some local schoolteachers even asking if they can share some of Green Ummah's material with their classes.

"It gets us thinking about directions that we can go in the future," Nathani said. "One of which is to hopefully work with schools and Islamic schools, on creating greener curriculums for them."

This piece was originally published on CBC News on May 11 2020.

EnviroMuslims Want to Make This Year's Ramadan More Eco-Friendly with Their Eco-Ramadan Challenge

By: Chelby Daigle

EnviroMuslims has launched its Eco-Ramadan Challenge, aimed at getting Muslims to think about making their Ramadan more eco-friendly.

Muslim Link interviewed members of EnviroMuslims about their organization and what they hope to achieve with this year's Eco-Ramadan Challenge.

Tell us yourselves

The three core members of the team are: Saba Khan, Sara Khan, and Areej Riaz. All three individuals have a passion for environmental stewardship and sustainability as well as community health and well-being, which is so closely tied to the realm of sustainability.

Both Areej and Saba have pursued degrees related to environmental sciences and sustainability. Saba holds a bachelor's degree in Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo, and Areej holds two Masters of Science degrees: one in Applied Carbon Management from the University of Glasgow and another in Environmental Sciences from Kinnaird College in Pakistan. Both are currently employed in the field of sustainability and climate change.

Sara holds a science degree from the University of Toronto, specializing in Computer Science. Over the years she has been involved in various large-scale community projects through groups such as Islamic Relief Canada, Muslim Welfare Centre, and MAX Mentors, and is leading the group’s projects related to social impact. 

While all three individuals are of Pakistani descent, we look to our community for diverse perspectives and ideas and encourage individuals who would like to volunteer with us, or have ideas for future programming, to get in touch.

How did you start EnviroMuslims? 

EnviroMuslims was an idea in the works for years. For some of us, we have studied environmental studies, sciences, and sustainability and pursued careers in the industry. For others on our team, although they pursued different career paths, the passion they have about social justice and the health and well-being of our communities tied directly to their desire to get involved in this group.

EnviroMuslims is a movement to engage with the Muslim community around our roles as caretakers of this planet - a gift that has been given to us by Allah swt and that we are responsible for caring for. Seeing the lack of inclusion and diversity in the realm of sustainability and considering the impact climate change has on diverse and vulnerable communities around the world, we saw an opportunity to engage with the Canadian Muslim community around an issue that is so important to our religion, as well as the health and well-being of our community and generations to come.

How did the idea for the Eco-Ramadan Challenge come about?

The idea of the Eco-Ramadan Challenge came from EnviroMuslims’ Climate Change and Environmental Programming Lead, Areej Riaz. Areej moved to Canada in 2019 and was devastated to see the plastic water bottles and food waste that littered a local masjid during the month of Ramadan. Her feelings resonated with the entire EnviroMuslims' team, and the Eco Ramadan Challenge was born.

With the COVID-19 pandemic halting gatherings and closing mosques across the world, the team knew this Ramadan was going to be different. The Eco Ramadan Challenge aims to bring the community together by introducing activities and resources to complete an eco-action every day of Ramadan from home, with the hope of encouraging a shift in behaviors within the community. By developing the Eco Ramadan Challenge, our group’s aim is to encourage individuals to consider the impacts our actions have on the planet and its finite resources, to examine alternative actions that can reduce our environmental footprint, and reduce our collective burden on planet earth.

How are you partnering with other Muslim organizations for this campaign?
 
While the development of the Eco Ramadan Challenge has been a team project, the support we have received by Muslim organizations sharing the Challenge on their social media platforms has been a true blessing. 
 
The Alberta Muslim Public Affairs Council (AMPAC) helped us in creating a video for their Muslims of Canada video series, which we released on Earth Day. The video introduced EnviroMuslims as well as the Eco Ramadan Challenge.
 
We have also received support from our friends at Khaleafa, who have included the Eco Ramadan Challenge in their Green Ramadan Journal.The journal allows individuals to track their green goals along with goals related to prayer and health this Ramadan.
 
More recently, on Tuesday May 5, we had the opportunity to “take over” Green Deen Tribe’s instagram account. Green Deen Tribe is a group based in the United Kingdom who is currently featuring environmental groups around the world and showcasing what an ethical iftar looks like in different countries. EnviroMuslims had the opportunity to spend the day speaking about our work and showcasing the Eco Ramadan Challenge
 
The COVID 19 pandemic has highlighted the issue of air pollution as many cities are experiencing the cleanest air in years as so many people stay home. Does your campaign explore Air Pollution or other environmental issues related directly or indirectly to the COVID 19 pandemic.
 
The Eco Ramadan Challenge explores a variety of environmental issues related to water stewardship, energy conservation, food and plastic waste and climate conversations. These actions are not only ones that individuals can take within their homes during a time of physical distancing but can also be adopted past the pandemic and lead to a behavior shift in our community. In terms of direct actions that link to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an action that encourages families to make cleaning supplies made of natural, chemical-free ingredients. 
 
Through our social media channels, we have shared posts encouraging individuals to properly dispose of gloves and masks, as well as resources around the impact of disposing disinfecting wipes down toilets - a concern many municipalities across the country have shared, as the improper disposal of disinfecting wipes down toilets has increased the stress of our shared infrastructure. We are active in sharing tips, news articles and resources specifically around environmentalism during COVID-19 on our social media platforms.
 
We were also invited by the MYVOICE Canada team to speak to youth about post-pandemic life specifically around environmental sustainability. During this webinar we discussed issues related to our environmental footprint, and how the pandemic has brought to light the impacts humanity has on the natural environment. Watch the interview with EnviroMuslims by MYVOICE Canada below (It may take a few moments for the video to load from YouTube).

How can people get involved with EnviroMuslims?

We are always looking for like-minded individuals who share our passion about environmental stewardship and sustainability. If you are interested in volunteering or collaborating on one of our coming projects, you can reach us at enviromuslims@gmail.com.

You can also follow us on social media: Facebook: @EnviroMuslims, Twitter: @EnviroMuslims, Instagram: @enviromuslimscanada
 
Is there anything else you would like to add?
 
To us, it is important to share that environmental sustainability goes beyond caring for the natural environment: it is an issue linked closely to health and well-being, social justice, inequality, education, and indigenous sovereignty. It is important for us to share with our community that everyone has a role to play in this movement, regardless of your educational background, career, or lifestyle. Through our programming, we hope to introduce the Canadian Muslim community to a wide range of ideas, resources and perspectives to empower individuals to see the power we have to make a positive and eco-conscious change.

This piece was originally published on MuslimLink on May 10 2020.

Cambridge’s burgeoning Muslim community to benefit from new ‘eco’ Mosque

By: Nashwa Gowanlock

A new ‘eco’ mosque in Cambridge hosted its first morning prayers this month — it’s a unique building with world-class environmental credentials and hopes to better serve the city’s burgeoning Muslim community. Freelance journalist Nashwa Gowanlock went to visit for Environment Journal.

Beyond the striking university campuses of historic Cambridge, lies a lesser-known part of the city that boasts its own chronicle — one of tolerance and diversity.

The heart of this multicultural community is Mill Road, a narrow and heaving thoroughfare lined with ethnic eateries and specialist supermarkets.

Nestled within the Victorian terraced housing is one of the city’s newest builds — the UK’s first eco-mosque.

A first not only in the country but also throughout Europe, the new mosque will serve some of the city’s estimated 8000 Muslims — including students — who hail from around 60 nations.

The project was founded by Tim Winter, a renowned scholar and lecturer in Islamic Studies at Cambridge University.

‘The mosque has been designed as a facility for local residents of whatever religious persuasion,’ Winter says.

‘Its public areas, including the gardens, cafeteria, and teaching space, will provide a significant new amenity for all our neighbours.’

Cambridge’s population has experienced a boom in recent decades, due in large part to the development of the city’s science and technology industries.

With only a handful of smaller mosques serving the city, demand for such a space to accommodate its Muslim residents had been mounting.

Community Regeneration

The mosque itself has been ten years in the making, with the once-derelict land at the far end of the street, in the Romsey neighbourhood, acquired in 2008.

According to local historian and guide, Allan Brigham, the area past the railway bridge has always been an area of change.

‘200 years ago, the only people living here were farm labourers,’ says Brigham.

‘After the railway came in 1845, Romsey Town became really an area for railway workers living here, which was a community completely unknown in Cambridge and they came mainly from the east of England. They weren’t people who lived in Cambridge before.’

A Romsey local of 40 years, Brigham was a member of a committee consulted in the project’s initial planning stages.

‘We said this end of Mill Road needed an area of greenery,’ Brigham says. ‘It will create a bit of breathing space and be really attractive. It will – and has already – helped uplift this end of the road.’

Creating a calm oasis

Inspired by the Islamic gardens of India and Spain, this greenery at the entrance to the mosque was sculpted by garden designer, Emma Clarke, as a contemplative space.

Along with the café and the atrium, which will host various functions and exhibitions, the garden was designed for all visitors to enjoy.

The mosque’s tree-shaped columns made from Swiss timber are another distinctive feature, meeting at the ceiling in a latticed canopy.

Selected in 2008 through an international competition were architects Marks Barfield, who also designed the London Eye and Kew treetop walkway.

This project was principally the vision of the late David Marks together with his partner, Julia Barfield, who says that marrying tradition and local character with contemporary design was a priority.

‘Throughout the world and throughout history, mosques have taken on the character of their area — they’ve taken on the vernacular of the architecture,’ Barfield says.

‘The idea of the calm oasis is very important in Islam. We imagined the site covered in a glade of trees and then the trees became structural trees and then they were joined at the top with this geometry.’

Eco-benefits

Every detail of the mosque was designed to specification and environmental concerns were at the forefront of structural plans.

‘The mosque incorporates a number of green technologies,’ Winter explains, ‘including air-source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling, sedum roofs, photo-voltaic arrays and passive ventilation.’

‘These and other features respond to the Qur’anic insistence on the sanctity of the natural world and the commandment to avoid waste and extravagance.’

Natural light is diffused via circular skylights, supplemented with low-energy LED artificial lighting. Energy use is designed to be minimal, using static heating and natural ventilation supplemented by displacement cool air supply.

‘Cambridge is a symbolic capital city of modernity,’ Winter says.

‘This build signals Islam’s constructive and healing response to the challenges and problems which the modern world faces. Muslims should be at the forefront of the fight against waste and global warming.’

Social factors were also measured in planning the configuration of the building, whose height was determined by that of the local three-storey terraces; its brick façade also complements the architecture of the town.

The mosque’s gold dome may be an eye-catching attribute, but there will be no minaret and no call to prayer broadcast outside the building.

‘Sustainability is not just environmental; it’s also social,’ Barfield says.

‘In order for it to fit into this local setting, it needs to be of this place and of this time. But it also needs to celebrate Islamic culture.’

A city of tolerance

Over £23m was raised to fund the project, including donations from the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs and at least 8000 individuals. at least 8000 individuals.

Although it has yet to launch officially, the mosque temporarily opened its doors to the local Muslim community for its first Friday prayers on March 15.

Despite that morning’s news of shootings at two New Zealand mosques, which left 50 people dead, the prayer hall at the new Cambridge mosque, which has a 1000-person capacity, was packed with worshippers.

‘Hopefully, the mosque will be part of the community in the way that all the other churches in the area are,’ Brigham says.

Dubbed ‘the community of communities’, Mill Road has long been a landmark of unity.

Its Winter Fair, during which the entire length of the street is closed off to traffic, draws huge crowds every year.

Locals mostly run the stalls, exhibitions and stage performances that line the street, no matter the weather.

According to the organisers, the event is ‘created and run by people from the Mill Road area’. It is a ‘celebration of the area’s community,’ as well as its ‘culture and way of life’.

‘Most main roads divide communities,’ Brigham adds. ‘Mill road, one way or another, brings communities from both sides of the road together. And I think that’s what makes it unique in Cambridge.’

Its popularity is even beginning to gain acclaim, with Romsey Town being listed by Travel Supermarket in 2018 as being one of the country’s ‘hippest neighbourhoods’.

This year’s fair will be a chance for one of its newest neighbours to participate.

One of those welcoming them is Cambridge councillor for Romsey Ward, Anna Smith.

‘Romsey is a wonderful, diverse and vibrant ward, with a fantastic community spirit,” Smith says.

‘I’m thrilled that this beautiful new mosque, with its welcoming congregation, is coming to Romsey.’

Offering parallel values of respect for a place and its people, the mosque should find itself in good company as the city of Cambridge continues to thrive.

This article originally appeared on Environmental Journal on April 4th, 2019.

Campaign Challenges Interfaith Community to Take Action

Living the Change is a globally-connected community of religious and spiritual institutions, along with leading experts in the field of sustainable consumption practices. Through commitments in the areas of diet, transportation, and energy use, they seek to create a worldwide community of conscience and practice to drive lifestyle-related reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.

Living the Change Campaign

Living the Change began as part of the interfaith communities global response to the Special Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on "Global Warming of 1.5ºC", and continued through the opening of the United Nations’ climate change conference COP24 in Katowice, Poland. The first campaign was held between October and December 2018, and diverse religious and spiritual communities organized more than 100 local sustainability events in 25 countries across 6 continents.

We believe everyone can become part of the solution to climate change, and it will take all of us working together for our shared future. We know what must be done, and we have the ability to start taking action today. We are all environmental stewards, united in the responsibility and the blessing to care for our common home. We feel love and concern for the billions of living beings with whom we share this planet. We have the knowledge and skills to help make a healthier, happier future for all. During the most challenging times, we are reminded how truly we are all in this together.

Many notable Muslim leaders have joined the campaign including Imam Zaid Shakir, Dr. Ingrid Mattson and Imam Ibrahima Saidy among other prominent Muslim acamedics, theologians, community leaders and environmental champions. Over the next several weeks, Khaleafa will be featuring their stories, highlighting the importance to take action on climate change.

Interfaith Statement “Walk on Earth Gently”

During COP23, Living the Change published and delivered the Interfaith Statement “Walk on Earth Gently”. This call for climate action was signed by distinguished faith leaders, clergy, theologians, scholars, climate advocates, and community members. They represent many of the world religions: Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity (Anglican/Episcopal, Baptist, Roman-Catholic, Franciscan, Jesuit, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian), Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Quaker, Unitarian, and Zen.

WALK ON EARTH GENTLY

A MULTI-FAITH INVITATION TO SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES

Earth is a blessing. She supports life and is the basis of all our economies. She conveys beauty and evokes our recognition of something greater than ourselves. She is our temple, our mosque, our sanctuary, our cathedral. Our home.

Our actions now threaten the delicate balance of life on Earth, with climate change posing a most grave danger. Record numbers of severe storms, droughts, fires, and related catastrophes leave trauma and grief in their wake. Recent months have witnessed the tragedy of such occurrences in the Caribbean, the US, and India. We shudder over the enormity of this suffering and over what more lies ahead.

For thousands of years, our traditions have taught us to care for Earth. This responsibility has become urgent in recent decades. Our misuse of Earth’s generosity, while improving conditions for many, is not improving them for all and is fraying the web of life. The most vulnerable among us, those least responsible for this global threat, suffer the impacts of a warming climate unfairly and unjustly.

We have begun to respond, raising consciousness and starting to consume more sustainably. We have implored leaders to act. We have studied, prayed and petitioned, advocated, marched and mobilized. We have awakened to the urgent challenge and begun to change our ways.

However, we are at a crossroads. The Paris Agreement affirmed limiting temperature rise to well below 2⁰C, while pursuing efforts to a far safer 1.5⁰C limit. Our friends from Fiji and small island states, understanding the stakes and underscoring the science, have told us “1.5 to stay alive.” Yet we are currently headed for warming of 3⁰C or more, perilously beyond this limit

This challenge is both dire and urgent. It calls for us to act.

As religious and spiritual leaders, we are committing to make changes in our own lives, and to support the members of our communities in doing the same. Together, we come to you with an invitation to embark on a journey towards compassionate simplicity for the sake of the climate, the human family, and the community of life. For many of us, changes in three areas make the greatest impact: dramatically reducing emissions from our home energy use, adopting a plant-based diet and reducing food waste, and minimizing automobile and air travel. Because of the gravity of our situation, substantial and long-term changes in these areas are indispensable if we are to reach a 1.5⁰C future, particularly for those of us in communities whose carbon footprints exceed sustainable levels. We pledge our commitment to such change.

Through this collective effort, we look forward to creating a global community of conscience and practice in which we learn to put belief into action in relation to our own lifestyles. Our spiritual and faith communities will give us hope and companions for this journey. We will share ideas, materials, and stories of struggle and success. Our practices of mindfulness, spiritual discipline and prayer will enable us to grow. These ancient teachings and practices, and our renewed commitments and willingness to strive, will help us build pathways towards a sustainable future.

We wish to be clear that we understand that systemic change is required to solve this crisis. We will continue to advocate for the policies that are so urgently needed. However, we also believe that individual commitments and behaviors are as important in addressing climate change as they are in addressing poverty, racism, and other grave social ills. And we know that our spiritualities and traditions offer wisdom about finding happiness in a purposeful life, family and friendships, not in an overabundance of things. The world needs such wisdom; it is our privilege both to share and to seek to embody it.

We invite you to join the many others willing to walk this path by adding your name to this document, and by preparing to make commitments in the three areas named above. The diverse groups coming together in this moment will reach out to invite you to become involved in a programme of support and action which will take shape over the coming year.

Let us pray and hope we can come together in love for each other, those who suffer from climate change, future generations, and planet Earth.

Faiths Unite to Save the Rainforest

Rainforests play a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate. They are the only safe, proven, natural solution that exists for carbon capture and storage and are key to addressing climate change. Unfortunately, tropical forests are highly undervalued assets even though they provide many ecosystem services, including removing carbon from the atmosphere; providing protection against floods, landslides, avalanches and ocean surges; providing clean water, fish, medicines and crops; space for recreation and exercise; and places sacred to the world’s various faiths

The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative is an international, multi-faith alliance that works to bring moral urgency and faith-based leadership to global efforts to end tropical deforestation. The initiative welcomes engagement by all organizations, institutions and individuals of good faith and conscience that are committed to the protection, restoration and sustainable management of rainforests.

Components of its mandate include:

• Build consensus - Facilitate dialogue across religions about the shared moral, ethical and spiritual responsibility to protect rainforests.

• Make the case - Create opportunities for religious leaders, scientists and indigenous peoples to speak in concert about the case for ending tropical deforestation.

• Facilitate learning - Equip religious and spiritual leaders with the science, training and tools they need to become effective advocates for protecting rainforests.

• Mobilize commitment - Mobilize religious and spiritual leaders to make ending tropical deforestation an ethical priority and create space for them to advocate for policies that protect rainforests and those that serve as their guardians.

• Raise awareness - Increase the profile and visibility of the deforestation crisis, and the fundamental role that rainforests play in addressing climate change, achieving sustainable development and surviving as a planet.

• Influence policy - Serve as a moral force for change to influence governments and companies to adopt, fulfill and expand upon commitments to protect rainforests.

• Build coalitions - Facilitate new partnerships among religious and faith leaders, indigenous peoples, and other sectors – government, business, and civil society – to anchor global commitment to protecting rainforest in on-the-ground action in rainforest countries.

• Inspire action - Create a worldwide movement for rainforest protection that is grounded in the values, ethics and moral guidance of faith communities.

The initiative was launched in June of 2017 at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway in a first-of-its-kind summit of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and Taoist religious leaders, climate scientists, rainforest experts and indigenous peoples’ representatives from Brazil, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Meso-America and Peru.

Islamic Relief & Climate Change

Islamic aid organizations have recognized the connection between social justice and climate change, and that the changing climate is already having a devastating impact on the poorest and most vulnerable in society. Over the coming decades, climate change is an issue that will adversely affect the Muslims world, especially those who are displaced by floods, drought, desertification and extreme heat.

“We are in danger of ending life as we know it on our planet”
–   Islamic Declaration on Climate Change, 2015

Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief works with communities to strengthen their resilience to disasters, and provide vital emergency aid when disasters occur. They are known to tackle the root causes of poverty and are a policy leader on Islamic humanitarianism. In 2017, they released ‘Climate Champions - Islamic Relief’s Global Climate Action’, which captures why Islamic Relief is vocal on climate change and climate justice issues, and how they are campaigning to reduce emissions, promote sustainable living and protect the most vulnerable.

Islamic Relief recognised climate change as one of the greatest moral, social and environmental issues facing humanity. Inspired by Islamic teachings on justice and stewardship, they help communities become more resilient to climate change, improve learning on environmental issues among staff and supporters, aim to reduce our carbon footprint, and undertake advocacy to promote substantial and equitable reductions in greenhouse gases.

Global Climate Change Policy

Launching its updated Climate Change Policy this week, Islamic Relief Worldwide has reiterated its stark warning that bold and urgent action is needed to limit global warming and respond to the consequences of climate breakdown.

The Islamic Relief Climate Change policy recognises climate change as one of the greatest issues humanity faces, and sets out the far-reaching response that is needed.

“Our climate policy speaks out on behalf of the poor and marginalised suffering from climate change across the world,” said Islamic Relief CEO Naser Haghamed, speaking at the policy’s launch event on February 11th, 2019.

“We say that as a moral, social and environmental issue, mitigation of climate change demands an urgent and global response and change on an unprecedented scale.

“Limiting warming to 1.5°C is the most effective way to use resources. But there must also be investment where the consequences of climate breakdown are already being felt: in disaster risk management, adaptation and resilience building, and addressing loss and damage.”

Expressing the need for urgent action, Naser Haghamed echoed Swedish child activist Greta Thunberg’s cry that “Our house is on fire”. Thousands of schoolchildren worldwide are not attending school to take part in strikes pressurising world leaders to tackle climate change.

“Just the previous week, it was announced that 2018 was the fourth hottest year on record, the oceans are the warmest ever, the UK will average 1.5 degrees warming within five years, glaciers in the Himalayas are set to melt threatening water shortage for two billion people, and Islamic Relief was on alert as the government of Balochistan declared a drought emergency.”

Talanoa Dialogues

The Talanoa Dialogues organised by Islamic Relief in 11 countries sent messages to governments and the UN that adaptation to climate change needs to be tackled by the people who know their situation best. The duty of government is to help them plan and carry out the necessary work.

Emphasising that Islamic Relief must also continue to strive to do more, Islamic Relief’s CEO added:

“We must make sure that we are doing everything to limit our own greenhouse gas emissions, with continuously improving environmental performance integral to our business strategy and operating methods.

At next month’s UN Environment Assembly, Islamic Relief will present on their climate and consumption work in East Africa. There they will also engage with the UN secretary general’s climate summit and UN Climate Change conference later in the year.

National Umbrella Day

By: Muaz Nasir

Today marks National Umbrella Day; a day where we mark our appreciation for this useful invention. (1)

Umbrella’s are an innovative tool, that have been around for thousands of years. Evidence of their use can be found in ancient art and artifacts in Egypt, Assyria, Greece and China (2). Not only do they keep us dry during the rain, but they can also protect us from the damaging rays of the sun.

As a result, the umbrella has become a symbol for climate change, representing the dueling forces of floods and droughts that have rocked the planet in recent years.

Floods, Droughts and Climate Change

Water vapour, which is the source of rain and snow, primarily comes from two sources. About 60% is derived straight from the oceans, while the other 40% is evaporated over the continents. This is important to note because the rate of evaporation from the ocean increases as the world warms, and this contributes to increases in the annual amount of snow and rain (2).

Globally, the atmosphere is getting warmer, which means that it can retain more moisture. More rain may seem like a good thing, but too much rain, especially high-intensity, short-duration storms, can have a devastating impact. Flash floods have become common in some parts of Canada, where rain that falls as a violent downpour, quickly runs back into the rivers and lakes, rather than being absorbed and retained in the soil.

On the flip side of the equation, even though evaporation is increasing, the holding capacity of the atmosphere is not keeping pace. This results in dry spells between rain events, as it takes longer for moisture to recharge the atmosphere. This leaves parched soils which are unable to hold moisture during these severe storms, and further exacerbates the run-off of water out of the system when rain actually arrives (3).

Whether it's heavy rain or blistering sun, the humble umbrella will become one of the go-to tools in the toolbox in adapting to climate change.  

Kamal Badawi, a Saudi engineer from Makkah, explains the features of a smart umbrella to a pilgrims. (Source: Al Arabiya)

What’s Next for Umbrellas?

Recently, Saudi engineers have re-designed the umbrella to assist Hajj pilgrims avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration at the holy sites where temperatures can climb to over 40°C. Known as a smart umbrella, it is solar powered and has integrated USB ports, a fan, flashlight and a GPS system to help locate lost family members and friends (4). Other versions connect the base to a water bottle which can deliver a cooling mist to pilgrims (5).

This National Umbrella Day, give your umbrella a tune-up before spring arrives and consider its new role in a world with climate change.

Sources:

1. National Day Calendar: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-umbrella-day-february-10/

2. The Climate Reality Project: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/why-does-climate-change-lead-more-floods-and-droughts

3. Climate Communication Science & Outreach: https://www.climatecommunication.org/new/features/extreme-weather/precipitation-floods-drought/

4. Al Arabiya: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/2016/09/11/Pilgrims-use-Smart-Umbrella-.html

5. Daily Pakistan Global: https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/technology/saudi-engineer-invents-air-conditioned-umbrella-for-hajj-pilgrims/

YOUTH FROM FAITH COMMUNITIES CREATE “NATIVE PLANT” GARDENS

Faith & the Common Good (FCG) is a multi-faith not for profit organization that helps faith communities of all faith beliefs and all cultural backgrounds, to green their faith buildings and surrounding property.

Faith & the Common Good were fortunate to receive an Ontario 150 grant. It provided the opportunity for youth of different religions and cultural backgrounds, to create 8 native plant gardens in 3 cities this Spring; Ottawa, Halton/Oakville and Toronto. Toronto FCG chapter chose 3 faith sites; Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, Manor Road United Church, and the International Muslim’s Organization of Toronto (IMO).

On Friday, November 17, Donna Lang, Toronto Animator for Faith & the Common Good and Harold Smith, attended Friday prayers at IMO. After the service, Donna presented a garden plaque to Omar Farouk, Executive Director of the International Muslim’s Organization of Toronto (IMO).

Omar Farouk of IMO commented on the attendance of 3 different religions at the prayer service. “It is fitting that we have representation from 3 different religions here today. Donna Lang, Harold Smith and our congregation represent the 3 religions, Christian, Jewish and Muslim, and all of these originate from the Father Abraham. We have many complementary stories and passages in our respective religious texts, due to our common roots”.

“First Peoples, First Plants” is the title of the gardening plaque presented to the IMO congregation, and these words are meant to honour and recognize the contribution of the indigenous people of this land. Native plants were before the settlers arrived and they are low maintenance and drought resistant, due to the fact that they are original to the land.

Donna thanked Sarah Narine and Atik Patel, the 2 youth leaders at IMO, who helped with the garden. Atik recruited youth for planting day and also was responsible for the video coverage. Sarah was in charge of planting day and she did a fantastic job of organizing the plants and showing the youth where to plant. There was also a demonstration, to show the youth how to plant.

Donna also thanked Harold Smith, who is Chair of the North American Native Plant Society. Harold did the garden designs and plant selection for each of the Toronto gardens.

“We were very lucky to have such an experienced garden designer on board”, said Donna Lang. “We feel very fortunate to have worked with the IMO youth, who were fast learners and hard working. It was a delight to see their happy faces at the end of the planting day”.

HOW GREEN IS ISLAMIC STYLE?

By Miriam al Ali

Islamic Fashion, 101: Many Westerners may not know this, but the long, black covering for clothing worn mainly by Arabian women is called an abaya; the headscarf that is worn with jeans and other casual wear is called a hijab. Hijab is a term that means ‘barrier, covering or veil’, and for many Muslim women around the world, it’s an essential part of the fashion they consider to be modest enough to comply with Islamic dress codes.

Unfortunately, these items of Islamic clothing are often also a ‘barrier’ to eco-friendliness, as more than not, they are made out of nasty polyester, nylon or rayon, all of which trap sweat and heat. But that is about to change.

Abeer Al-Azzawi is a young Canadian woman who fretted that in a world where eco pet accessories and organic baby clothes worn for mere months are offered to consumers in abundance, there were very few ‘green’ options for the hijab, which is worn every day by millions of women around the world.

“From all of my research, I never found one eco hijab that was available,” said the designer to the leading newspaper, the Toronto Star.

So Al-Azzawi – who doesn’t wear the traditional head scarf herself – created Queendom Hijabs, a line of head coverings that uses soy and bamboo based fabrics that breathe well, and are warm in winter and cool in summer. Due to its flexibility, breathability, and natural credentials, the line quickly gained popularity with sportswomen and Muslims living in colder climes.

“My goal is to make every hijab eco,” she says.

While this is good news for hijab wearers from Canada to Indonesia, the eco-abaya, however, remains elusive. Still mainly a Middle Eastern phenomenon, these long black robes do make a strong appearance in London during the summer months, when many Arabs escape the heat to the more moderate weather of the English capital. While the highest quality abayas are often made of fine silk, these are often reserved for special occasions, and even so, they can’t necessary be considered ‘eco’, because the dyes used are often toxic, and they are frequently covered in synthetic crystals, plastic beads or other non-eco embellishments.

Some brands, such as Body AMR, pictured in our main image, do carry all-silk, design rich pieces that are high on style whilst being low on bling, but they are not cheap, and the thirst for embellishment is unlikely to disappear from the Gulf region any time soon.

That being said, there’s clearly also a growing eco-fashion market in the region, as demonstrated by Vogue Italia’s green design talent hunt, in conjunction with the Dubai Mall. The question is: which entrepreneurial designer will be the first to truly corner that market and become the ‘Stella McCartney’ of the Arab world?

This article originally appeared on ELUXE Magazine in 2015. 

Conference Promotes Sustainable Development in the Islamic World

The Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers adopts various documents and projects aiming to give substance to environmental protection and promote sustainable development in Islamic world

Today at the headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in Rabat, the 7th Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers closed with the adoption of many documents and projects that aim to activate environmental protection and promote sustainable development in the Islamic world.

In this regard, the Conference adopted the Report of the 4th Islamic Executive Bureau for the Environment and urged the Member States to complete the appointment of focal points for the Bureau to facilitate the follow-up to the implementation of the decisions, resolutions and recommendations of the Executive Bureau and the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers.

It also adopted the Report of the Director General on ISESCO’s Efforts in the Field of Environment and Sustainable Development between the 6th and 7thICEM Sessions. In addition; commended ISESCO’s efforts devoted to the implementation of the programmes geared towards Environment Protection and Sustainable Development; and invited ISESCO Director General to pursue these efforts, in coordination and consultation with the OIC General Secretariat, the Member States’ competent parties and the national, regional and international specialized bodies, in such a way as to achieve sustainable development goals.

By the same token, the Conference adopted the Report on ISESCO’s Efforts in the 22nd Conference of the Parties on Climate Change and Preparation of the 23rd Session of the Conference and lauded ISESCO’s efforts devoted to activating the “Islamic Declaration on Environment Protection and Sustainable Development.

It also lauded the Organization’s efforts in enforcing the resolutions of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP), through the implementation of relevant programmes and activities for the benefit of Member States; commended its contribution to the preparation for and participation in the COP22 held in Marrakech and urged the Member States to engage in further joint action for activating the relevant conventions pertaining to climate change and to the mitigation of its effects; and to take practical measures likely to ensure the necessary adaptation in this regard.

Further, the Conference adopted the “Progress Report on the Creation of the OIC Water Council and its Terms of Reference”; commended the efforts put by the OIC General Secretariat and the Islamic Conference of Ministers Responsible for Water towards creating this Council, developing its statutes and defining its terms of reference and working mechanisms; invited the Member States to support this Council in the implementation of water-related programmes in such a way as to enhance water resources management and climate change adaptation in the Islamic world. Likewise, it invited the OIC General Secretariat and ISESCO to coordinate water-focused joint Islamic action in order to uphold the Council’s action in light of the “Strategy for Integrated Management of Water Resources in the Islamic World” and the “OIC Water Vision 2025”, in such a way as to contribute to ensuring water security for Islamic countries.

In another vein, the Conference adopted the Progress Report on the Creation of the Islamic Academy for the Environment and Sustainable Development; thanked the Kingdom of Morocco for its sustained efforts towards the implementation of this major academic and developmental project, as well as for the administrative and technical measures taken, within the framework of the new conception of the Academy, towards providing its headquarters and developing its organizational structure and action programme; and invited the competent party in the Kingdom of Morocco to coordinate with ISESCO for pursuing the necessary practical measures for the creation of the Islamic Academy for the Environment and Sustainable Development.

In addition, the Conference adopted the Report on “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management in the Islamic World”;reiterated thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the creation of the Award and for his kind consent as to expanding its scope to cover the Islamic world and entrusting its General Secretariat to ISESCO, in order to entrench the broad concept of environmental management and promote sustainable development in Islamic countries.

It also hailed the efforts exerted by ISESCO and the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to effectively launch this Award in the Islamic world, starting from the current edition of 2016-2017 and commended ISESCO’s role in assuming the General Secretariat of the Award, undertaking the organizational and technical arrangements for the implementation of its media plan, and ensuring the academic and technical supervision of the submissions assessment process, in cooperation and coordination with the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In another vein, the Conference agreed that a new category under title “Honoring the Best Environmentally friendly Islamic City” be added to the Award’s four categories in a bid to encourage the development of green cities in the Islamic world in line with the Guidance Document on Green Cities and their Role in Achieving Sustainable Development.

The Conference also adopted the updated version of the “Report on the Creation of the Joint Committee on the Executive Work Plan for Natural Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in the Member States” and adopted the proposal made by the Islamic Executive Bureau for the Environment to set up the Joint Committee on the Executive Work Plan for Natural Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in the Member States, composed of the OIC General Secretariat, ISESCO, Islamic Development Bank, the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, under the supervision of the Islamic Executive Bureau for the Environment.

In the same vein, it adopted the Pilot Programme on Capacity-building in Natural Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in the Member States for 2018-2019 and invited the OIC institutions concerned to cooperate with the Joint Committee to convene an Expert Meeting in order to define Member States’ priorities and capacity-building activities in line with the said Pilot Programme, and submit a report on the subject to the Eighth Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers.

Further, the Conference commended the efforts being made by the Member States towards achieving sustainable development within the framework of their regional and international commitments, and invited them to continue their efforts to implement the resolutions of the 7th Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers in such a way as to respond to the needs, priorities and public policies of the Member States in this area.

In another vein, it called for building on the “Guidance Document on Green Cities and their Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals” in the development of relevant national plans; commended the ongoing efforts in the Member States having opted for sustainable urban planning and development, and urged the rest of Member States to prioritize sustainable urban development in their national policies and take the necessary legal measures to regulate green building projects, in line with the best international practices and in anticipation of the steady growth of cities in the decades to come.

By the same token, it recommended fostering cooperation and exchange of successful experiences in green urbanization and enhancing the climate resilience of existing cities, and invited Member States to adopt smart and sustainable city policies in building, energy, transportation, waste recycling and water use, protect forests and prevent their exploitation for urbanization purposes, and build the capacities of local governments in this field.

Moreover, the Conference adopted the Report on “the Creation of an OIC Joint Commission for Sustainable Development (OIC-CSD)” and called for merely activating the existing relevant OIC and its affiliated institutions’ mechanisms with regard to directing joint Islamic Action efforts towards encouraging sustainable development among Member States, and working towards highlighting these efforts within the UN System, the regional and international forums as well as specialized conferences on environment and sustainable development, in order to achieve sustainable development goals and enable the neediest Member States to benefit from the expertise and potential available in this field.

Likewise, it adopted “the Programme on the Celebration of Islamic Capitals of Environment and Sustainable Development”, taking into consideration the observations of the Conference members and called on Member States to adhere to this Programme and work towards taking the necessary measures for making their cities environmentally friendly as per the “Guidance Document on Green Cities and their Role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals”, and in line with the best international practices in this field.

It welcomed the endeavors of the Executive Director of the UN Environment Assembly to dispatch a qualified team of international experts to conduct a field study on the state of the environment in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Eastern Al-Quds, pursuant to the request submitted by the State of Palestine, and in accordance with the procedural guidelines of environmental assessments and called on the Executive Director to act towards dispatching the abovementioned experts team to conduct the said study in the event of a refusal by the Israeli occupation authorities to cooperate by issuing a written approval to facilitate the team’s mission and its entry to the occupied Palestinian territories, including Eastern Al-Quds and invited the competent parties to support this resolution in the relevant international forums in appropriate ways.

In conclusion, the Conference decided to hold the 8th Session of the Conference at ISESCO headquarters, in October 2019 and thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for allocating a fixed budget for the convening of each session of the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers and the Islamic Executive Bureau for the Environment.

For more information about the conference, visit the ISESCO website at https://www.isesco.org.ma/