Assalaamu alaikum,

The topic of sustainability arises almost daily in the media and social discussions. How important is it from a scientific and environmental viewpoint and, more importantly, from the Islamic perspective? Caring for the environment is referenced in the Quran in many places. It seems that the talk is easy, but the task is difficult, as highlighted here:

Indeed, We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, and they declined to bear it and feared it; but man [undertook to] bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant. (Quran 33:72)

O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. (Quran 7:31)

With continued concerns about excessive consumption, waste, water pollution, and climate change, the impact we have on the environment may be violating that trust placed in us by the Creator. That trust is a great responsibility, one we must take seriously, and everyone must do their part.

Renewable fuels, regenerative farming, carbon capture, and tree planting are some of the ways we are addressing sustainability. Companies have begun to incorporate sustainability into their business models. For example, PepsiCo has set a goal of spreading regenerative farming over seven million acres by 2030, sustainably sourcing 100% of their ingredients, replenishing water in local watersheds, reducing plastic use, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. Cargill is working with farmers to advance regenerative agriculture practices on ten million acres of farmland in North America by 2030. The first electric self-propelled container ship was inaugurated in Norway, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization is providing farmers with information to sequester carbon, and more companies have set sustainability goals.

But this isn’t just a responsibility of industry. As individuals, we can take actions to protect our ecosystem, such as recycling, composting food scraps, fishing and hunting for food, and reusing what we can. Let us all do our part to ensure the health of our planet. It is our joint responsibility.

Sincerely,

Muhammad Munir Chaudry, president