Climate change: The biggest threat facing humanity today

Islamic Relief’s new climate policy sets out what must be done to address the climate crisis, writes Waseem Ahmad, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity today.

At Islamic Relief we witness the impact of extreme weather events in our work all over the world. Right now, children in Somalia are starving because of an unprecedented drought, while in Pakistan I recently saw for myself the devastation caused by the worst floods in decades.

Such disasters will get more frequent and severe – unless world leaders finally act.

As COP27 begins, Islamic Relief is publishing our new climate policy which sets out what we believe must be done to address the crisis.
It’s rooted in 2 core principles – justice and inclusion.

Wealthy countries have caused the climate crisis but it’s the poorest people who are most affected by it. The 23 richest countries – which make up just 12% of the global population – have produced half of all CO2 emissions, and fossil fuel companies are making record profits. On the other hand, Pakistan produces 0.1% of global emissions but has borne the brunt of deadly floods. We believe that the countries that have benefited from activities that caused the climate breakdown have a moral responsibility to assist and compensate those who are living with the consequences.

To address climate change we also need to address the inequalities in our societies. The people who are most affected must be at the heart of any discussions and decisions. Women, the elderly and the poor suffer some of the worst impacts but face multiple barriers to participating in decision-making. Young people and children, whose futures are at stake, are rarely listened to. People with disabilities and many indigenous groups are ignored. From big events like COP to small community gatherings, these voices are often marginalised or tokenistic.

In our new policy, we’re demanding that world leaders take urgent action in three key areas:

1/ Mitigation

To stop the worst impacts of climate change we must limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. This can only happen by cutting emissions of greenhouse gases – by at least 50% by 2030 and reaching net-zero by 2050.

Despite global commitments, this target is already way off track. Last week 2 new UN reports warned of a catastrophic rise of between 2.5 and 2.8 degrees.

The 1.5 degrees target can still be achieved, but only if we end the world’s dependency on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, and invest more in clean energy sources such as wind, water and solar. All new energy projects must be from these renewable sources.

We’re calling on governments to set ambitious targets to decarbonise industry and incentivise green buildings that are well insulated and efficiently lit. Tax incentives should be put in place for using low-emissions technologies, with higher taxes for high emissions.

Global CO2 emissions from transport are increasing – to reverse this we need more investment in zero-carbon public transport, electric vehicles and urban design that encourages cyclists and pedestrians.

Governments must also do more to conserve and restore carbon-rich ecosystems like forests and peatlands, and reform the food production systems that produce a lot of greenhouse gases.

There are things that individual citizens can do too. Global tourism and air travel contributes almost 8% of CO2 emissions, and meat production contributes far more emissions than plant-based diets. At Islamic Relief we’re making a conscious effort to only fly when we need to.

2/ Adaptation

Climate change is already happening, and we need more investment to help the most vulnerable communities adapt. Currently, less than 25% of all global climate financing goes towards adaptation – that must at least double to 50%.

Many of Islamic Relief’s own programmes help communities adapt, through initiatives such as drought-resistant seeds and solar-powered irrigation. In Pakistan we built flood-resilient shelters in 2010 that withstood the recent devastating floods.

But such solutions must not be imposed from outside. For adaptation to be successful it must be centred on local knowledge. Local communities know best how climate change is affecting their lives and ecosystems, and they – especially women, young people, people with disabilities and marginalised groups – must be empowered to drive adaptation.

Ultimately, reducing poverty is crucial. People in poverty are most at risk from disasters – they live in the most exposed areas, often in low-quality housing. Their livelihoods are more vulnerable to disease or crop failure, and they don’t have the financial means to recover. For climate action to assist the poorest it must reduce their poverty.

3/ Loss and Damage

Climate change is already destroying people’s lives, homes and livelihoods on an unprecedented scale. Since 2008 climate change has uprooted some 21 million people from their homes each year.

By 2030 it’s projected that climate change will cost developing countries up to $580 billion in Loss and Damage. The recent floods in Pakistan alone are likely to cost $20-30 billion.

We’re calling for a dedicated global finance facility to be established to address Loss and Damage from climate-related disasters. In line with the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle, the countries with the largest emissions should be the ones to pay for the damages. And it must come in the form of grants, not loans that trap poorer countries in long-term debt.

The way forward

All of this costs money, but it’s an investment in the future of humanity and our planet for generations to come.

Rich nations have pledged $100 million for climate mitigation and adaptation, and so far, haven’t delivered on even that modest target. At the same time, the world currently spends 21 times more than that – $2.1 trillion a year – on military and arms.

Ultimately it takes political will. There continues to be a massive gap between what governments promise and what action they take. At COP27 that needs to change.

Islamic Relief is committed to supporting communities affected by climate change through aid and advocacy. Help us continue this vital work. Donate now.