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The Position of Islamic Countries Today

The Islamic perception of the natural resources has its roots in the

Holy Quran. The Quran contains some important principles for

environmental conservation and shows that environmental damage and

mismanagement of natural resources are disliked. According to Holy

Quran:

“Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been

to his Lord ungrateful” (Al-Isra, 27)

Based on this statement,

conservation of all natural

resources from misuse is our

(Muslim’s) mandatory duty. In

fact, the Holy Quran and Islamic

law can play an important role in

promoting the sustainable

development in Islamic countries.

There is an urgent need for Islamic countries to be greener in management

and business due to the equitable law in Islam, whereby the correlation

between greenness and the equitable law is very close. Many

characteristics of the OIC member countries make them extremely

vulnerable to natural and human made hazards. For example, some of them

are among the most disaster prone areas of the world, like African

countries, and some of them are suffering from significant human

causalities and economic losses, like Pakistan and Iraq. So far, a few OIC

member countries have adopted their national sustainable development

strategies. For instance, Malaysia successfully adopted sustainable

development strategies to become a fully developed country by year 2020

through the effective strategic planning.

A. Environmental Issues in Muslim Countries

Islamic countries have great variety of natural resources,

environment, and geography. Most of them have arid and semiarid climate

which caused to have a desert environment, especially in the Middle East

and North Africa. Thus, they are extremely vulnerable to climate change in

terms of water availability which mostly threatens their agriculture. This

climate also caused to have small proportion of forest area. Deforestation is

one of the important environmental issues in Islamic countries. African

countries like Comoros, Togo, and Nigeria have highest rate of

deforestation. Since the urbanization in most Islamic countries is

expanding, particularly in Malaysia and Turkey, the forest area is

experiencing intensified pressure from deforestation. Forests provide

habitat for various species and acts as sink of carbon, therefore,

deforestation generates stresses on environment. It also threatens the

welfare of people who their livelihood depends mostly on forest resources.

B. Takers of Action and Their Solutions

Morocco

Moroccans do know that

their country will be affected by

climate change; it’s just a question

of how badly. It already started

to feel the effects: The rate of

economic growth fell to 1.5% this

year because of a severe drought in 2015. Here are six things Morocco is

doing to reap the triple benefits of adapting to climate change, lessening its

impact and creating new opportunities:

1- Morocco aims to generate 52% of its electricity needs from

renewable energy by 2030, and is stimulating local manufacturing with

a target of sourcing 35% of the second phase of the NOOR

concentrated solar plant from local producers.

2- Morocco has lifted all subsidies on diesel, gasoline and heavy fuel

oil to encourage more efficient use of energy and to free up resources to

invest in the transition to a green economy.

3- The Plan Maroc Vert aims to protect the environment as well as the

livelihoods of Moroccans. Agriculture accounts for only 15% of its

Gross Domestic Product, but farming still employs 40% of its

workforce.

4- In Morocco, a solar power plant was established in 2010 which is

expected to cover about 13 percent of the country’s power needs.

5- Morocco has begun treating its ocean as a natural resource with the

same importance as the land, with improved coastal zone management

and the development of sustainable aquaculture. Fishing makes up 56%

of the country’s agricultural exports.

6- Morocco is making an effort to conserve its underground aquifers, a

natural source of fresh water that, if left clean and undisturbed,

replenishes itself. It’s a win for the environment and for current and

future generations of Moroccans.

Indonesia

The Indonesian government is considering green economy options in

their regional development and economic corridor approaches. Green

economy policies are being delivered through a number of action plans for

low carbon development and less hazardous waste, sustainable use of

biodiversity and natural carrying capacity. Phasing out of undesired

subsidies for fossil fuels shifted incentives away from resource use and

pollution. For instance, the government has started to phase out the use of

kerosene for household cooking, which is highly subsidized, to liquefied

petroleum gas.

Jordan

The combination of climate change and an increasing population

threatens to further hinder Jordan’s ability to provide its citizens with basic

energy needs without increasing

dependence on foreign sources. But

the solution to this dilemma could

be hiding in plain sight.

Jordan is one of the richest

countries of green energy resources;

and that green technology can be

used to solve the energy challenges.

Just because Jordan lacks ‘traditional’ energy resources does not mean it

does not have alternatives. In fact it does. Green technology, or cleantech,

includes innovations such as solar panels, solar heaters, wind turbines,

water collection devices, and water purifiers, and creates cheap and

sustainable energy sources intended to mitigate the effect of human activity

on the environment. Using these technologies, entrepreneurs from all over

the world have tapped alternative energy sources while simultaneously

creating sustainable businesses. That too can happen — and is happening

— in Jordan. With over 300 days of sun annually, Jordan is one of the

sunniest places on earth, meaning that solar energy could be considered a

national resource

Malaysia

The process of greening Malaysia’s economy had started around the

1970s with introducing the regulations to manage pollution from the palm

oil industry. Malaysia’s policy framework in energy development

gradually developed by focusing on fossil fuel supply in the 1970s to a

diversification of supply sources (renewable energy) by the year 2000. In

2009, Malaysia introduced a new development policy framework called the

New Economic Model which outlined the goals of inclusiveness, high

income and sustainability to lead Malaysia to a high income country by

2020. Malaysia has also introduced the systematic architecture to respond

to the green economy agenda. The Malaysian national green technology

policy which was introduced in July 2009 shall be a driver to accelerate the

national economy and promote sustainable development. The energy

efficiency and renewable energy will be also promoted and supported

under this policy. NGTP tries to develop and improve the major sectors

such as energy, buildings, water and waste management, and

transportation. Moreover, it tries to progress and improve R&D, innovation

and commercialization through collaboration with local and multi-national

companies.

The Malaysian government has started some basic and feasible fiscal

and financial green technology development incentives. Many Malaysian

companies are financing their green technology initiatives through Islamic

banks.

Turkey

Turkey is an energy importing nation which more than 70% of its

energy requirements met by imported fuels. Air pollution is an important

environmental concern in this country. Hence, hydropower and other

renewable energy sources

became good solution for

clean and sustainable

energy of Turkey. Turkey

has adopted energy

efficiency to reduce the

country’s Carbon Dioxide

emission. Turkey decreased

its energy intensity by 8% between 1990 and 2005. Its improvement

through improved sectoral energy efficiencies is an important goal of

Turkey. It has multiple benefits such as economic benefits, environmental

benefits and health benefits. Turkey has large energy conservation

potential around 25% - 30%. Energy efficiency policies have been

implemented in the industrial, residential and services sectors. Its National

Energy Conservation Centre has provided training to consumers on energy

conservation measures, conducted energy audits in industry, maintained

energy consumption statistics for the industrial sector and public buildings

and co-ordinated the dialogue and co-operation with the relevant

institutions. There is a great potential for the geothermal, solar thermal,

wind power and solar energy applications in Turkey.

Tunisia

They have promoted the development and use of renewable energy to

decrease the country’s dependency on oil and gas. In 2009, the first

national Solar Energy Plan was presented with the objective of increasing

the share of renewable energy sources from just under 1 percent to 4.3 per

cent in 2014. The plan includes the use of solar photovoltaic systems, solar

water heating systems and solar concentrated power unit for electricity

generation. The expected energy savings from the Solar Energy Plan may

reach 22 percent with a reduction of 1.3 million tonnes per year of CO2.

The experience in Tunisia indicates the potential returns on investing in

renewable energy as one of the pillars of green economy, creating new

jobs, and reducing dependency on fuel imports.

Arab Countries

Many of Arabian countries are implementing the green economy to

achieve the sustainable development. For example, United Arab Emirates

created sustainable public transportation in Dubai by establishing the

subway network to bring about 30 percent reduction in private car use. As

a result of that, it expected the greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced

because of using the renewable energy. In addition, the natural gas has

been increasingly used for taxi vehicles in countries like Egypt, Syrian

Arab Republic, and United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia has constructed many environment-friendly buildings

inspired by traditional architectural concepts to prepare the easy way for

future architectural achievements like solar lighting, solar cooling, and

solar power, aims at reducing the need for electrical lighting and cooling,

and saving annual energy costs. Qatar has also launched its green economy

roadmap which represents a comprehensive effect to assist in the

development and implementation of policies towards a green economy.

Moreover, Qatar is significantly implementing sustainable building

practices and it is sixth in the world in green buildings.

Bahrain and Kuwait are also implementing sustainable buildings.

Some of these buildings are integrated with wind turbines. Among Arab

countries, Egypt has developed a leading experience in applying wind

energy. The government of Egypt allocated around 7,647 km2

of land for

wind farms with almost free land access for investors. They have planned

to increase the renewable energy share of total electrical production to 20

percent by 2020.

C. Still Most Emitters

a) Crude Oil Producers

The combustion of petroleum causes an increased amount of carbon

dioxide emissions as well as other greenhouse gases. Petroleum products

give off the following emissions when they are burned as fuel: Carbon

dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen

oxides (NOX), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), particulate matter

(PM), lead and various air toxics. Nearly all of these byproducts have

negative impacts on the environment and human health.

Oil generates revenue for countries with enough oil reserves to

produce more than their domestic consumption. Despite the increasing

proliferation of alternative energy sources, oil production continues to play

an important role in the global economy. According to the most recent

data, the top five oil-producing OIC nations are Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran,

UAE and Kuwait.

1. Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia contributes 12% of the world's total

production.

2. Iraq

Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector. With its 143.1 billion barrels

of proved oil reserves, Iraq ranks third in the world. Iraq was one of the

founding members of OPEC. In June 2008, the Iraqi Oil

Ministry announced plans to go ahead with no-bid contracts to some

privately owned companies which were criticised, arguing it was hindering

efforts to pass the hydrocarbon law and got cancelled afterwards.

3. Iran

Iran, which is a member of the cartel, sits upon 13% of global oil reserves.

It produces over four million barrels per day, accounting for 4% of total

global production.

4. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The UAE produces about 2.9 million barrels per day of total oil liquids, but

has stated its intention to increase this to 5 million barrels per day. And oil

reserves in the United Arab Emirates are almost as big as Kuwait's claimed

reserves.

5. Kuwait

The petroleum industry in Kuwait is the largest industry in the country,

accounting nearly half of the country's GDP. Kuwait has a proven crude-oil

reserve of 104 billion barrels, estimated to be 9% of the world's reserves.

Kuwait's oil reserves are the fourth largest in the world. Kuwait is the

world's eleventh largest oil producer and seventh largest exporter. Kuwait's

oil production accounts for 7% of world-wide oil production.

b) Gulf Countries

Gulf countries which are mostly the biggest crude-oil producers may

get perilous effects by the climate change. In case of a continuation in

temperature rise, particularly if it exceeds 2 to 3 degrees Celsius, IPCC

warns that the world could face massive species extinctions, widespread

starvation, declining production of crops, and a persistent rise in sea levels

that could drown perhaps major parts of the world’s coastal areas.

The GCC countries

will be directly impacted by

such disaster scenarios. If sea

levels rise, natural and

especially man-made islands

in the region and elsewhere

will disappear, with Bahrain

potentially losing up to 15

kilometers of its coastline. In addition, underground water salinity will

increase, more land degradation will occur in the region, and biodiversity

on land and in the Gulf will be affected. As one expert has stated: “There

are two major and immediate consequences: first, rising sea levels will

affect coastlines and marine life severely and could impact on desalination

plants that are the source of water for the region. Second, rising

temperatures means increasing water demand and with falling freshwater

levels and increasing salinity in sea water (which affects the efficiency of

desalination plants), water scarcity is a fearsome prospect.”

The Gulf countries face a difficult situation as they depend mainly on

fossil fuels — the main cause of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions — and

their economies are dependent on the oil, gas, and petrochemical

industries. Though the rate of development is high, the lack of arable land

and water resources prevents the development of carbon sinks, forests, and

green areas.

Most are crude oil producers and their vast expanse of forests are

continuously being deforested. Therefore, declarations also urged Muslim

oil-producing countries to be at the forefront of efforts to reduce gas

emissions, while their business sector should prioritize sustainable business

models. The commitment of oil-producing countries such as Gulf states are

being tested and the world is watching to see whether they will take

important measures to divest their fossil-based fuel industry.

Besides being the world’s main petroleum exporters, Gulf countries

have been under fire for carbon emissions from the large-scale use of fossil

fuels. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran figure among the world’s top 50

CO2 emitters. There is thus no doubt that the Gulf countries share

responsibility with the rest of the world for climate change and hence must

work to diversify the energy pie and look for more environment-friendly

energy sources. Yet, while it is a common responsibility, different

obligations must be charted out for different countries. Giant emitters, for

example, should shoulder more burdens. Gulf countries do recognize the

problem and are trying to come up with innovative solutions in the

renewable energy field to offset this. However, to this day, they have not

taken the necessary actions to change their lifestyles and consumption

patterns which contribute to their high greenhouse gas emissions.

Possible Solutions

1. Changing Our Lifestyle

There are many simple ways that people have helped improve the

climate, whether as individuals, or as a community. Collectively we have

to take action to prevent further damage to the earth we all live on.

Individual Muslims and Muslim communities are and will continue to be

vital to this transition if the world is to limit global warming to 1.5C above

pre-industrial levels. As part of its Clean Energy Mosques campaign, the

GMCN is calling on every mosque in the world to take concrete measures

to reduce its energy consumption — for example by using LED lighting

with sensors and improving insulation — and switch its energy source to

solar. Such actions give mosques an opportunity not only to help tackle

climate change, but also to reduce their costs.

Powering our buildings with solar or wind energy is one of the best

solutions. Saving water at our homes is important too. Why? Because the

clean water that is being pumped to our houses are being treated with a

great energy use. We can also choose a fuel efficient vehicle when

purchasing, take public transportation if it's available, carpool to work, ride

a bicycle or walk when possible.

2. Forestation

Trees play a

vital role in protecting

our environment in

several ways. Fewer

forests mean that the

sustainability of our

planet Earth is

endangered. So far, there has been some actions and measures that are

being undertaken to curtail deforestation, a move towards saving our

natural environment and repairing the damage that has been caused for

more than a century. The quickest solution would be to just stop the cutting

down of trees. Nonetheless, a more workable solution is use of proper

forest management strategies to ensure the environment is not disturbed.

Some of these strategies include:

Green Business

Green business concerns re-use and recycling. Green methods of

production and utilization of resources can immeasurably reduce

deforestation. Particularly, it’s the focus on re-using items, reducing the

use of artificial items, and recycling more items. Paper, plastics, and wood

are linked to the destruction of forests and other natural resources.

Eco-Forestry

Eco-forestry is a move on saving the world’s forest. It acknowledges that

sometimes, the use of trees for various human activities or reasons can be

inevitable.

Law and Regulations

Due to nature and extent of forest destruction, efforts to stop the human

activities can be complemented by laws and regulations at governmental

and organisational levels. As much as people increasingly become aware of

deforestation’s consequences, some people focus more on the immediate

economic gains at the expense of the long-term environmental damage.

Replanting (Reforestation)

Replanting or tree planting utilizes almost the same aspect as community

forestry. However, it entirely focuses of replanting, a feature commonly

known as reforestation. Reforestation is the restoration or replanting of

forests that have been reduced by fire or felling. It requires an ongoing

process and should not be viewed as a onetime thing.

People, communities, governments, and organisations are all active actors.

It involves selecting and dedicating large tracts of land mainly for the

purpose of cultivating forests. For instance, in local communities and urban

centers, it can be done around market areas, in game/wildlife reserves, or

within city parks. Replanting, therefore, qualifies restorative measure of

deforestation

3. Strides to Make

It carries vital importance to handle against these problems that our

world is facing for a long time, and the governments have the most crucial

role in that act. Here are few possible solutions that Islamic states have to

take serious in the way of handling the current situation as soon as

possible:

1. Establishing institutional enabling framework,

2. Developing our overall capacity to deal with climate change and

environmental conservation,

3. Developing and enhancing communication, outreach, and partnerships,

4. Activating and reviving implementation of previous initiatives, plans,

and declarations,

5. Supporting the idea of renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.

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