The two-day event kicked off in Cairo on Monday under the auspices of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi under the title “Fatwas and Sustainable Development Goals”.
Scholars and Muftis from 90 countries attended the religious event, along with representatives of the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
“The Fatwa charter to confront climate change demonstrates that the general secretariat of Fatwa Authorities Worldwide is well aware of its responsibility and how it can contribute to addressing the climate change problem,” Palestinian Grand Mufti of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Mohamed Hussein said in the closing ceremony of the event. He pointed out that the charter was launched only days before the 27th session of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Hussein said that the charter urges all parties to abide by any laws and conventions aimed to reduce the risks of climate change.
He concluded his remarks by urging the international community to face up to its responsibilities and play its role in dealing with climate change as a threat to all humankind. Hussein also stressed that countries should assume responsibility in proportion to the damage they cause.
The charter prohibited, in accordance with Islamic law, practices deemed illegal by the authorities, such as hunting, killing or capturing birds, wild animals or marine organisms. It also prohibited the cutting or damaging of plants as well as collecting, possessing, transporting or trading in fossils without permission from the authorities.
It also prohibited trafficking in endangered living organisms without a license from the authorities. The charter also prohibited any means of disposing of hazardous waste unless permitted to do so by the authorities.
The charter stated that exceeding air pollutant emission limits, or leakage of air pollutants from installations or buildings, is religiously forbidden and that the same holds for such emissions from cars, engines or machines.
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