Islamic Climate Change SymposiumPhoto: Islamic Relief

In June we reported on Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on the environment, social justice and climate change, which  also mentioned the damage done by mining.
Now a major Islamic declaration on climate change has been released, calling for a global fossil fuel phaseout.
The declaration was adopted by the 60 participants at the International Islamic Climate Change Symposium, (Istanbul, 17-18 August) and urges governments to deliver a strong, new international climate agreement in Paris this December that signals the end of the road for polluting fossil fuels by creating architecture that will give us a chance of limiting global warming above pre-industrial levels to 2, or preferably 1.5, degrees Celsius.
It is a clarion call to 1.6bn Muslims around the world to work towards phasing out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and towards a 100% renewable energy strategy.
The Vatican’s Cardinal Turkson sent a message of solidarity to the Symposium.