We hope this is not a coincidence, but rather that it has been intentionally planned to coincide with Earth Day by the committee to instill awareness among participants to take care of the Earth.

The Islamic community’s view of the environment is similar to the Judeo-Christian worldview (Callicott, 1994). Mankind’s domination and rapid expansion on Earth has been blamed by environmentalists as the root of environmental destruction.

However, in both Judeo-Christian and Islam teachings, man is not only granted the right to utilize natural resources for the fulfillment of his interest, but he is also responsible for the maintenance and caring of the Earth.

Although this “stewardship interpretation” is still anthropocentric, it can be bolstered to promote conservation among religious people. Promoting conservation among religious people based on ecocentrism will be difficult.

Religion and environmentalism actually have several things in common and can therefore help each other achieve the common goal, which is ensuring a healthy Earth, even though they may have different reasons.

Religious followers want to keep the Earth habitable because the future of humanity depends on it. Environmental activists want to save the Earth for the sake of the Earth.

Both religion and environmentalism require a long-term vision. Religious devotees know that their actions, be they small or large, will have an effect on them in the future. Good deeds will bring good results and vice versa.

They will not seek short-term benefits if they result in a negative effect on the future. Likewise, environmental activists know their actions in some parts of the ecosystem will have effects on other parts. The impacts, however, may not be detected immediately.

For example, humans have polluted the Earth’s atmosphere with carbon dioxide for more than a century, but it may take another century before the devastating global impacts begin to annihilate nations.

Both religion and environmentalism forbid us to be selfish. Religion encourages altruism by promising a reward in the hereafter as well as in the world. Social harmony can only be achieved when the members of a society are considerate and helpful to each other.

Likewise, to solve environmental problems altruism is absolutely required. If people living near upstream rivers pollute the rivers, people living downstream will suffer the consequences. If we pollute the air, the pollutants will be moved by the wind and affect people in other areas. On a global scale, countries generally accept that global cooperation is need to overcome environmental issues.

Being altruistic and taking a long-term approach, both religious devotees and environmentally-committed people are ready to sacrifice their materialistic pleasures for the sake of the environment. To achieve nobility, religious devotees must be able to control their desire.

Many religions have sacrifice rituals and encourage their followers to live a modest life. The Prophet Muhammad and other Prophets lived in austerity. Living a simple life is the essence of conservation. A luxurious life will result in resource depletion and environmental pollution. Both religion and environmentalism value quality of life but not extravagance.

Both religious and environmental movement leaders must also be ready to fight for a noble cause. The majority of people pursue a worldly life.

They strive to amass wealth beyond their basic needs. Governments as well as companies always promote consumption in order to increase economic growth. Promoting a modest life is therefore a daunting task.

Few people have the capability and willingness to consider long-term goals. Asking them to sacrifice pleasures that they experience now in exchange for a better future will be difficult.

In short, encouraging people to adopt a religious path as well as an environmentally sound way of life will be a never-ending struggle. Only those with clear vision and strong conviction can bear this task.

It is encouraging that the climate change conference in Bogor is attended by 90 participants from Islamic boarding schools across Indonesia. Islamic boarding schools can be developed as centers for environmental movement.

Cooperation among religious leaders, scientists and environmental activists is absolutely required to avoid environmental catastrophes due to climate change and other impacts of environmental deterioration.

Scientists will provide the understanding of how ecosystems work and the impacts of our actions on them as well mankind’s role as part of the ecosystem.

Religious leaders provide the religious foundation, such as divine revelations and the examples of prophets, to motivate the followers to save the environment. Environmental activists help organize the movement.

We have damaged the Earth so severely that devastating global environmental calamities may be looming in the future, jeopardizing the lives of our descendants. But, the majority of us continue to go about their business as usual.

Unless the religious leaders participate in saving the Earth, the general public won’t be sufficiently motivated to adopt conservation values and lead a sustainable way of life, and we will be destined for
disaster.


The writer is a lecturer at the University of Bengkulu’s School of Forestry.

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