Islamic Relief India contributes to India’s commitment to UN framework on Climate Change
ISLAMIC RELIEF INDIA is a humanitarian organization working to alleviate suffering, hunger, illiteracy and disease through an inclusive approach. It is part of the world's biggest Islamic faith inspired organizations, working in more than 40 countries. Islamic Relief globally is a leader in promoting Climate Change adaptation and was the main force behind the Islamic Declaration on Climate Change signed in Turkey in 2015 by representatives from 25 Muslim countries. The Declaration calls for all nations and Islamic Leaders to lead the way in tackling climate change. As part of its commitment to the UN framework on Climate Change, Islamic Relief globally is implementing several projects on Climate Change adaptation. In India, Islamic Relief is implementing a unique project called Action on Climate Change and Consumption (ACC) focusing on promoting community perspective and behaviour change on sustainable consumption and production through the teachings of Islamic faith. The project targets to enhance the capacity of community leaders, youth and homemakers as they represent the largest global consumer group. A two-month long campaign ,' Hi fazat' ,w as launched during the month of Ramadan with initiatives aimed at large-scale awareness generation and sensitization at a community level. An eco-cent re was setup in amos que ina small rural hamlet in Bi har.T he mosque is utilizing renewable solar energy and producing vegetables for its own consumption and has also become the centre for disseminating knowledge on renewable energy and sustainable consumption of resources.To educate the youth, an online and offline three-hourcourse has been developed on sustainable consumption and production. In the last one year, IRI's larger advocacy efforts saw focused social media campaigns, workshops, wall painting campaigns, trainings and partnerships with agencies and institutions like CERT (Centre for Educational Research and Training), religious scholars and homemakers. A discussion within the framework of Talanoa Dialogue to contribute to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was organized on World Environment Day i.e. 5th June zo3.8 in Delhi. The dialogue was followed by a plastic-free Green Iftar. An interfaith dialogue on Climate Change was also organized on zoth July 2018 at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi with eminent speakers like Magsaysay Award and Stockholm Water Prize winner Dr Rajendra Singh; Father Paul Moonjely, Executive DirectorofCaritas India; Mr Kulmohan Singh, Chief Advisor of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee; Professor Maulana Saud Alam Qasmi, Ex Dean of Faculty of Theology at AMU; and Swamini Adityananda Saraswati, Director of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance at Parmarth Niketan. All speakers highlighted how environment protection was integral to the teachings of all faiths and the urgencyfor immediate action. "The project is a pilot initiative of Islamic Relief in India and we hopeto replicate and scale up the project in other parts of India as well as formulate strategic partnerships, especially focused at harnessing influence of faith to inculcate a sustainable lifestyle and fight climate change," said Akmal Shareef, Country Director of Islamic Relief India. The initiatives undertaken have had a positive impact. After the meeting with various religious leaders in Bihar regarding the eco centre, many mosques are motivated to include the issue of environment and climate change in the Friday sermons (Juma Khutba). The consultations and meetings have also