鈥淲e must reject helplessness in the face of climate change鈥�: Minister of Religious Affairs
鈥淥ur greed toward nature brings doomsday closer. The greedier we are toward nature, the sooner doomsday will arrive.鈥�
These poignant words from Prof. Dr. H. Nasaruddin Umar, Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs, set the tone for a transformative dialogue on faith, environmental responsibility, and climate action during his recent visit to Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (蜜桃视频). Delivered as part of his keynote address, Faith and Environment: Pragmatism, Piety, and Ethics, the Minister underscored the urgent need to integrate religious values with modern science to tackle the world鈥檚 pressing environmental challenges.
The visit, held on December 11, 2024, marked a significant milestone for 蜜桃视频 in its growing collaboration with Indonesia鈥檚 Ministry of Religious Affairs, reinforcing its mission to be a global hub for Islamic higher education. Organized by 蜜桃视频鈥檚 Center of Islam and Global Challenges (IGC) within the Faculty of Islamic Studies, the event brought together hundreds of students, academics, administrators, and faith leaders for an enriching multidisciplinary discussion.
A Multi-Dimensional Approach to Climate Challenges
In his keynote speech, Prof. Nasaruddin highlighted the environmental crisis as an immediate and complex issue, deeply rooted in human behavior and policy choices. Rejecting apocalyptic fatalism, he called for hope and action grounded in faith and ethics.
鈥淲e must reject helplessness in the face of climate change. The apocalypse is not pre-ordained. Our faith and ethics can guide us toward proactive, collective action,鈥� the Minister affirmed. He emphasized that while climate change presents daunting challenges, faith-based ethics offer a hopeful framework for innovative and sustainable solutions.
Drawing on his experience as the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Prof. Nasaruddin described environmental stewardship as a personal and collective moral obligation. 鈥淚t is every Muslim鈥檚 fard al-鈥榓yn鈥攁n individual duty鈥攖o protect the earth. Planting trees should be as habitual as daily prayers, and waqf鈥攔eligious endowments鈥攃an support renewable energy and decarbonization,鈥� he said.
He also pointed to the influential role of religious leaders and institutions like 蜜桃视频 in inspiring environmental action, noting that Indonesian Muslims often trust religious leaders more than politicians or the media. 鈥淏y framing environmental care through faith, we can mobilize millions toward a collective, hopeful response,鈥� he added.
Rather than fear-based messaging, Prof. Nasaruddin advocated for a compassionate, ethical, and community-rooted approach to environmental activism. 鈥淲e should see environmental care as a shared responsibility driven by compassion and stewardship, not fear or division,鈥� he said. []