As communities across the globe grapple with coronavirus this World Environment Day, we must not forget the bold and urgent climate action needed to ensure humanity’s survival, argues Islamic Relief’s head of global advocacy, Shahin Ashraf.
When I first heard that Italy was locking down all those weeks ago, I feared it wouldn’t be long before the rest of Europe would follow suit. So, when the UK went into lockdown it shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but it did.
For the first time in my life, I felt a glimpse of how many of the communities that Islamic Relief works with must feel on a daily basis, especially those struggling with the impact of climate change.
Uncertainty, fear of the unknown, being forced to adapt to change, worries about accessing healthcare, anxieties about livelihoods, families worrying they’ll run out of food… Suddenly it was all close to home.
Our survival depends on a healthy ecosystem
It doesn’t take much to upset our planet’s very delicate bio-diverse ecosystem. While the world slows down due to Covid-19, the harmful effect of human action on our environment cannot be halted so easily.
Most species are feelings the effects of climate change, either through extinction, the loss of valuable minerals and plants, the destruction of habitats, extreme levels of pollution (that have visibly reduced during the lockdown) and the introduction of alien species.
Our survival – food systems, medicine, water, even the air we breathe – depends on the balance of our ecosystem which is tightly interwoven. We don’t have the luxury to continue to ignore the devastating effects we are having on our planet.
Stopping the world in its tracks, the coronavirus pandemic has given us the chance to take better care of ourselves and the world we live in. Muslims have just completed the month of Ramadan, in which we are asked to think deeper about our actions. This should include thinking about our consumption, our global footprint, our relationship with nature and our responsibilities as custodians of this planet.
“And the heaven God raised and imposed the balance and that you not transgress the balance,” (Qur’an, 55: 7-9)
Perhaps post-Ramadan we can implement permanent lifestyle changes when ‘normal’ life starts to resume. We may find it is not that difficult, after all, to reduce pollution by using greener and healthier forms of transport. Perhaps we will remember the fears of food scarcity that led to people panic buy and do more to live and eat more ethically so that poorer families around the world don’t go hungry as climate change ruins their lives and livelihoods.
Our food consumption is threatening life itself
In our delicate ecosystem, animals are another casualty of our food consumption. Almost 38% of all known species are on the verge of extinction due to human activities like cutting down forests to make way for agricultural space. According to the World Wildlife Fund, almost 60% of the global biodiversity damage is due to what we eat.
This pandemic has reminded us that the food we consume has consequences on not only the environment, but also our health. If we all reduce our meat and dairy intake by just 20%, we will see a significant positive improvement in both.
Plants are also at risk, with almost 70% of plant species endangered due to global warming. Our survival depends on theirs, but as plants and trees can’t move habitat, it’s up to us to create space for them to thrive. Something as simple as planting more trees and seeds can reverse some of the damage to our ecosystem.
“The worshippers of the Most Gracious are those who tread the earth gently” (Qur’an 25:63).
We can all be agents of change
Covid-19 has forced us to adapt, showing us that we are capable of change. How can we go back to our destructive old ways knowing that one new virus can bring the world to its knees?
Having witnessed the fragility of our ecosystem we have to recognise that without drastic action we will face long-lasting and deeply damaging consequences to our health and our planet.
Just as we have a duty to care for our fellow humans we must extend that kindness to our planet. As we look ahead to life after – or perhaps with – coronavirus, everyone must play their part in safeguarding this planet we share. We’ve been forced to take the first step already; let’s not now take two steps back.
This planet is the only home we have, so let us treat it with the respect with which God instructed us.
“And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.” (Qur’an, 6:38)
Islamic Relief helps vulnerable communities improve their resilience to climate change, and pushes for action to tackle the climate emergency. Donate now to support our work.