Al-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth

On 28th February 2024, a new document was published by Muslim scholars calling for much more serious climate action, including the phasing out of fossil fuels. Called 'Al Mizan', which means 'balance', it is widely being seen as a parallel or sibling to the Pope's famous encyclical on the climate called 'Laudato Si'. 

Four years in the making, the document was led by the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, based in the United Kingdom, and facilitated by the U.N. Environment Programme's Faith for Earth Coalition. It was drafted by a team of 12 Islamic scholars, including two women, specializing in environmental issues from around the globe, and in consultation with 300-plus Islamic and international organizations.

The Muslim scholars behind the document have said that countries did not go far enough at COP28 and have referred to the plenary text committing to  transitioning away from fossil fuels as "a far cry from 'phasing out' fossil fuels."

Here is the Al Mizan website with the Arabic and English translation.

Islamic Statements before 2015 Paris Climate Talks

An Islamic Declaration on Climate Change was issued in 2015, in the lead-up to the COP21 climate negotiations in Paris. It can be found on another page on this website:

http://www.arrcc.org.au/islamic_declaration

One key quote from this declaration is:

"We particularly call on the well-off nations and oil-producing states to – 

• Lead the way in phasing out their greenhouse gas emissions as early as possible and no later than the middle of the century;
• Provide generous financial and technical support to the less well-off to achieve a phase-out of greenhouse gases as early as possible;
• Recognize the moral obligation to reduce consumption so that the poor may benefit from what is left of the earth’s non-renewable resources;
• Stay within the ‘2 degree’ limit, or, preferably, within the ‘1.5 degree’ limit, bearing in mind that two-thirds of the earth’s proven fossil fuel reserves remain in the ground;
• Re-focus their concerns from unethical profit from the environment, to that of preserving it and elevating the condition of the world’s poor.
• Invest in the creation of a green economy."

An Australian Islamic statement

Published by The Climate Institute in Common Belief, 2006, www.arrcc.org.au/images/stories/webpages/Common_Belief.pdf

The following is an excerpt from the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils:

Many verses of Qur’an prescribe a way of life which expects human beings to conserve and enrich the environment. The environment is God’s creation. The creation of earth and all its natural resources is a sign of His wisdom, mercy and power for the benefit of humans. It is God’s best creation, and serves to develop human awareness and understanding of the creator.

God entrusts humans to enjoy the bounty of nature on the strict condition that they take care of it and preserve it. The colour of Islam is green, signifying the importance of nature.

The conditions Islam imposes on the use of the gift of nature are:

• strict restrictions on the use of life-supporting water

• eating and drinking modestly

• compulsory fasting to teach the followers of Islam to value of food and drink they enjoy

• austerity is all aspects of life, so that wastefulness and extravagance are great sins.

Our economic and social systems are totally at odds with the teachings of Islam. The economy is based on perpetual growth, which means ever-increasing production and consumption of goods and services. The protagonists of the free market system promote growth without considering its impact on nature.

Other statements

http://www.greenfaith.org/religious-teachings/islamic-statements-on-the-environment