The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has underlined need for a multi-faith intervention towards achieving alternative paradigm in reducing the impact of climate change and other environmental challenges in Nigeria.
Director General of NCF, Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano, made the submission in a keynote address at a forum themed: “Interfaith Rise for Climate” on Saturday, September 8, 2018 and hosted at LUFASI Nature Park, Lagos.
To achieve this alternative paradigm, Dr. Aminu-Kano sighted moderation in human consumption pattern, environmental stewardship as well as having ethical boundaries and contentment in human approaches to money and market while considering a holistic wellbeing as part of the framework for the new paradigm.
While giving examples of Muslim initiatives in existence that have proven very successful in environmental protection, he highlighted Eco-Islam; Islamic Declaration on Climate Change; Green Muslim Climate Network, Green fatwas; Green mosques; Green Hajj; Green iftar; and Green khutbah, etc.
Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano shared insights on Islamic principles and approaches to protect the environment as defined in Eco-Islam, a movement pioneered by Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Studies (IFEES). He reiterated on four Islamic principles which are the foundation for the inter-link between environmental protection and Islam belief – Tauhid (Unity); Fitra (Creation); Mizan (Balance); and Khalifa (Stewardship). Adding that Hima (Sustainable management); Harim (protection); Waqf (Trust Fund); and Hisba (Enforcement) are the approaches or mechanisms that Muslim societies have employed to observe and implement the tenets of these four principles.
Other speakers included representatives from the Christian faith and Buddhist community in Lagos who also shared their respective faith insights about environmental protection. The plenary session gave the opportunity to discuss on modalities to further work together as a multi-faith network towards advancing the work of creation and protect the environment. Environmental Awareness in faith-based institutions was identified as one of the first steps to use in evangelising and engaging followers of all faith institutions in driving action on environmental protection.
In order to continue the conversation around engaging inter-faith in driving climate action, Dr. Aminu-Kano used the event to announce NCF’s plan to host a public lecture and engage with faith leaders towards a strong campaign to save the Nigerian environment. This will be launched in 2019.
A Joint Faith declaration was made with seven key points as action for faith-based institutions which were based on public environmental awareness, engagement with faith-based governance structure, mainstreaming environment into theological doctrines and curriculum, and commitment to divest from fossil-fuel to renewable energy-powered worship centres.
The daylong event, which was organised in conjunction with Green Faith, was held to galvanise action with other global marches and activities including the Bangkok March to call-to-action national, sub-national leaders, government, private sector, faith-based institutions, and other stakeholders etc. as world leaders met for the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, which ended at the weekend.
