The role of man on this earth is that of a vicegerent (Khalifa) and it is his responsibility to safeguard the earth and its environment on behalf of God. If this concept were to be adopted by all nations, the world would indeed overcome the challenge of climate change, observes ARSHAD SHAIKH
With rapid climate change, one-fourth of Earth’s species could be headed for extinction by 2050. The five hottest years on record have all occurred since 1997. Heat-trapping gases emitted by power plants, automobiles, deforestation and other sources are warming up the planet. High temperatures are to blame for an increase in heat-related deaths and illness, rising seas, increased storm intensity, and many of other dangerous consequences of climate change.
During the 20th century, the Earth’s average temperature rose one degree Fahrenheit to its highest level in the past four centuries – believed to be the fastest rise in a thousand years. The planet’s oceans are also warming, which is causing dangerous consequences such as stronger storms, coral bleaching and rising seas. The Stern Review concluded that climate change could damage global GDP by up to 20% if left unchecked – but curbing it would cost about 1% of global GDP.
Climate change brings health risks to the world’s most vulnerable communities. As temperatures rise, so do the risks of heat-related illness and even death for the most vulnerable human populations. Scientists have linked the deadly heat waves to climate change and warn of more to come. In addition to heat-related illness, climate change may increase the spread of infectious diseases, mainly because warmer temperatures allow disease-carrying insects, animals and microbes to survive in areas where they were once thwarted by cold weather. Diseases and pests that were once limited to the tropics – such as mosquitoes that carry malaria – may find hospitable conditions in new areas that were once too cold to support them. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that climate change may have caused more than 150,000 deaths in the year 2000 alone, with an increase in deaths likely in the future.
EARLIER MILESTONES
First UN Conference on Environment held in Stockholm in 1972 resulted in the formation of the UNEP (The United Nations Environment Programme). Montreal Protocol signed in 1987 restricted chemicals that damage the ozone layer. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988 to collate and assess evidence on climate change. At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro 1992, governments agreed to the United Framework Convention on Climate Change. Its key objective was “stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”.
Developed countries agree to return their emissions to 1990 levels. Kyoto Protocol 1997 requires 37 industrialised nations, including the U.S., to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The larger burden falls on developed countries, because, the treaty argues, these nations share more responsibility for the current level of pollution. Developed nations pledged to reduce emissions by an average of 5% by the period 2008-12, with wide variations on targets for individual countries. US Senate immediately declared it would not ratify the treaty. One hundred ninety-two governments convened for the UN climate summit in Copenhagen in 2009 with expectations of a new global agreement high; but they left only with a controversial political declaration, the Copenhagen Accord. Thus in spite of huge concerns for climate change there was no consensus between countries on how to tackle this challenge.
PARIS AGREEMENT 2015
The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21 or CMP 11 was held in Paris, France, from 30 November to 12 December 2015. It was the 21st yearly session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 11th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
According to the organising committee, at the outset of the talks the expected key result was an agreement to set a goal of limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (°C) compared to pre-industrial levels. The agreement calls for zero net anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to be reached during the second half of the 21st century.
In the adopted version of the Paris Agreement, the parties will also “pursue efforts to” limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C. The 1.5 °C goal will require zero emissions sometime between 2030 and 2050, according to some scientists.
The Agreement will not become binding on its member states until 55 parties who produce over 55% of the world’s greenhouse gas ratify the Agreement. There is doubt whether some countries will agree to do so. Each country that ratifies the agreement will be required to set a target for emission reduction, but the amount will be voluntary. There will be mechanism to force a country to set a target by a specific date and no enforcement if a set target is not met. There will be only a “name and shame” system or a “name and encourage” plan.
ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF TRUSTEESHIP
Allah says in the Holy Qur’ān: “We offered the trust unto the heavens and the earth and the hills but they shrank from bearing it and were afraid of it. And man assumed it.” (Qur’ān 33:72) This means that human beings have been given the responsibility of stewardship and trust (Amanah) by Allah in order to care for and serve as a channel for the blessings of God to all creation. Humans are invested with special status and responsibility as trustees on earth and must fulfil the requirements of that trust.
According to Islamic thought, nature is a divine trust and man is the trustee. It can also be argued that since future generations also have rights to benefit from it, nature is also a trust for them. Moreover, the role of man on this earth is that of a vicegerent (Khalifa) and it is his responsibility to safeguard the earth and its environment on behalf of God. If this concept were to be adopted by all nations, the world would indeed overcome the challenge of climate change.