Green Creation 

Some climate change sceptics suggest the data is not clear enough... well, what about the information that it is already causing 300,000 deaths a year (see article in The Guardian and report on Kofi Annan - former UN Sec-Gen - thinktank website)? Ultimately only God only knows for sure what will happen in the future and we will only in hindsight be able to confirm information, but if it is bad, it will be too late to reverse. Is that a reason to wait and see or take preventative action? If we focus on living within our means (which we are currently not doing enough), then at least we will be better guardians (khilafa) of God's Creation: is that not enough incentive?

According to the report, "a majority of the world's population does not have the capacity to cope with the impact of climate change without suffering a potentially irreversible loss of wellbeing and risk of loss of life. The populations most gravely at risk are over half a billion people in some of the poorest areas that are also highly prone to climate change – in particular, the semi-arid dry land belt countries from the Sahara to the Middle East and Central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, South and South East Asia, and small island developing states." (my emphasis, as two of five aims - maqasid - of sharia are protection of life and dignity). You might not believe it as 'surely this would get more press attention if it were true', but note the report finds that nine out of 10 deaths are related to "gradual environmental degradation" meaning not very immediately visible of 'exciting enough' to present in the news.

As Muslims (and others) let us live in peace with one another AND our home(planet) as a scholar of Islam (or the Prophet PBUH himself?) said: "work for your situation in this life as if you will live forever and work for your afterlife as if you will die tomorrow" - live sustainably in this world and do not postpone good deeds until tomorrow as you may no longer be here tomorrow.