Making Climate a Religious Responsibility

Green Islam could be a mobilizing force that inspires calls for climate solutions in schools, mosques, and other grassroots groups. As the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia leads this movement based on teachings from the Quran, which instructs people to care for the Earth.

“People listen to religion. They understand religious words and the notion of duty,” explains Hayu Prabowo, chairman of the Environment & Natural Resources Body of the Ulema Council, the country’s highest Islamic authority. “Islam says to do a good job for the Earth, and the Earth will do good for you.”

The “Green Islam” movement does not rely on the authority of climate science but on the moral message rooted in the Quran. Faith leaders convey the message, which is reinforced by the country’s founding philosophy that calls for tolerance and social justice for all Indonesians, regardless of faith tradition. Fatwas, or religious rulings, have been issued on climate change, including wildlife protection and efficient waste management instructions. Indeed, Muslims must carry a “mandate and responsibility for maintaining and prospering the earth and everything in it as a reflection of Islam.” Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque is the first place of worship to be green-certified by the World Bank, with 40% of its roof covered in solar panels. It has slow-flow faucets to reduce water usage, and Quranic verses are placed near light switches to remind people to turn them off. “Al Isr 17:27: ‘Those who waste are kin of Satan.’” They hope to inspire other mosques in Indonesia to become greener.