Climate Change, A Moral Imperative

*By Nouhad Awwad**, Lebanon*

My heart swells with excitement as I introduce myself, Nouhad Awwad, a climate defender and nature advocate for our precious Earth. I pour my soul into my role as a Campaigner and Global Outreach Coordinator for the Ummah for Earth Project, within the cherished realm of Greenpeace MENA.

As a Muslim woman passionate about climate justice and the protection of our planet's biodiversity, I am driven by the values of the Islamic faith. As a child, my mom taught me to consume wisely and to reduce the use of single-use plastic. I participated in many beach cleanups and tree-planting activities in my school years. This pushed me to decide to specialize in the environmental field. My bachelor's degree in environmental health and master's degree in environmental science with a concentration in environmental policy planning gave me the knowledge needed to excel in climate negotiations and movement creation. During my master's degree years, I was introduced to climate negotiations by one of my professors; this drove me to read more, and in 2015, I started the Arab youth Climate movement chapter in Lebanon and joined YOUNGO where they offered me a scholarship to attend COP21 in Paris. Then I worked with Climate Action Network as a regional coordinator. My journey with the Ummah for Earth project has been guided by the principles I am deeply rooted in; intertwining climate activism with the profound teachings of Islam.

Many well-known experts and scientists attribute the climate crisis to human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. Is this the only reason that led us to be amid a climate crisis? Foundationally, it is a spiritual one.

The disconnection of human beings from nature contributes to the environmental and climate challenges we are facing. We need to emphasize the importance of caring for the environment as a responsibility entrusted to humans. The need for action has never been more urgent. Our planet is facing unprecedented challenges—rising temperatures, loss of biodiversity, sea level rise, decrease in forests and ecosystems, new diseases, and many other problems.

Climate change is not merely an ecological crisis; it's a moral imperative. We are morally obliged to address the climate crisis and protect those most vulnerable and mostly affected by climate change. Addressing climate change requires global cooperation and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

I believe that faith values as Islamic values not only resonate within our hearts but are integral to our responsibility as stewards of the Earth. From the Islamic worldview, we hold a sacred responsibility to be the caretakers of the Earth's “custodians”. It is written in the Quran that we need to work wisely on keeping the balance “almizan” by living in harmony with the environment and respecting all creation.

Earth as Mosque

Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “The earth has been made for me a Masjid (place for praying” mosque”) and a thing to purify.” This powerful statement emphasizes the sanctity of nature, pushing us to cherish and protect every area of this "mosque" as an act of worship. Another saying for the prophet is that for more than 1444 years, ask us to “Do not waste water even if you were at a running stream”. In a water-scarce region we need to consume only what we need and raise awareness within our communities of conserving water and how much less water availability will be due to climate change.

The project I currently work with is the Ummah for Earth project; it is a testament to this ethos, an alliance-led project that is built upon the foundations of Islamic teachings, catalyzing action within our Muslim communities. We seek to unify and amplify the voices of Muslim youth, leveraging our roles as leaders in the climate justice movement. Our mission is not just advocacy; it's a blend of faith and action on local, regional, and international levels. Activities range from raising awareness to capacity building on different levels on the importance of transition to sustainable energy sources.

Currently, we have 25 organizational allies and 8 individual ones, more in the loop to be on board. Globally, our focus remains on nurturing a sense of collective responsibility. We lead by example, engaging in community-based initiatives that promote sustainability and environmental stewardship. Our efforts involved a Solarizing Mosques report, a Green guide for Hajj and Umrah, "A Guide to an Eco-Conscious Ramadan, local youth climate justice marches, and other campaigning programs.

Ummah for Earth worked with our ally Global One to produce a ‘Green Hajj and Umrah Guide and smartphone Application’ which can be downloaded for free from our website. The Green Guide for Hajj and Umrah and mobile application allow pilgrims to perform Hajj and Umrah in an environmentally friendly manner, consistent with Islamic values in protecting the earth and all life upon it. In 2021, we launched it in Arabic and English during Hajj. In 2022, we launched in Indonesian, Bahasa, and Malay languages. In 2023, we developed "A Guide to an Eco-Conscious Ramadan". This guide connects and inspires Muslims to worship sustainably during the holy month by highlighting the depth of the relationship between Islamic values and protecting the environment using Ramadan month as a catalyst for a more eco-conscious life.

Islamic teachings advocate for moderation and conservation. Our campaign aligns with these principles, urging a shift towards sustainable practices. We advocate for reducing waste from sources, conserving resources, and promoting renewable energy sources—a call to action rooted in the ethics of our faith. We do not ask people to plant trees as a climate solution since this is a fake solution, we ask people to do so since according to prophet Mohammad (SAW) “No Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a human, or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him.” It is also an act of hope. “The Hadith says, ‘If the hour comes upon you when you are planting the tree, finish planting it.’ This means that if it's the last moment in your life and you can still do one good deed, then let it be planting the tree.

We invite everyone, irrespective of faith, to join us in our mission. Our goal is to harness the power of collective action, underpinned by the teachings of Islam, to create a more sustainable world for generations to come.

We will be at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, COP28, having five side events that range from nature-based solutions, Islamic finance, solarizing workshops places, using art in climate action, and the importance of harnessing diversity.

The responsibility is ours, the opportunity is now.

Other resources can be found in:

Ummah for Earth: https://ummah4earth.org/en/join-us-page/

Nouhad Awwad is the Ummah for Earth campaigner and Global Outreach Coordinator at Greenpeace-MENA. She holds a BSc. in environmental health and a master’s degree in Environmental Sciences with a concentration in environmental policy planning from the American University of Beirut. Nouhad also got a certificate from Duke University for completing the One Health Program; in addition, she attended a course on U.S. foreign Policy in Global Era at Elliott School of International Affairs at the University of George Washington University. In 2015, Nouhad started the Arab youth climate movement chapter in Lebanon and participated in COP21 then the years after she attended COP22, COP23, COP24, COP25, and COP26 as an observer. She attended the Climate Chance Conference in Agadir as a keynote speaker and participated in YOUNGO conferences of Youth: COY12, COY13, and COY14. Nouhad was the regional coordinator for Climate Action Network in the Arab world in 2019. She was elected as YOUNGO focal point for 2017 in which she works to empower young people so that they have a voice at UNFCCC conferences, as well as to promote youth participation in climate change projects at the local and national levels. Nouhad likes to identify herself as a climate activist.

Thanks for reading. This article is part of our collection, A Climate Transition Supported by Faith: from the voices of Islamic and Indigenous women, edited by Rev. Dr. Neddy Astudillo. Check that collection for more. Visit our email list, podcasts and YouTube channel for more content. Sign up for our quarterly emails here.