Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – His Eminence Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, delivered a poignant message at COP28, emphasizing the urgent need to address climate change and its devastating impacts.

According to Africa Science News, in his address, Dr. Al-Tayeb extended greetings to Pope Francis and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, praising their efforts in promoting human fraternity and confronting climate change. He highlighted the Muslim Council of Elders’ initiative in inviting religious figures to sign the “Call of Conscience: The Abu Dhabi Interfaith Statement for COP28” and establishing the first-ever Faith Pavilion at the conference. This step aims to amplify the voice of religious leaders in combating environmental threats, in collaboration with the United Nations and the UAE. Dr. Al-Tayeb underscored the urgency of the situation, citing natural disasters, rising temperatures, floods, wildfires, droughts, species extinction, and the spread of diseases as evidence of the escalating crisis. He referenced UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ statement about the transition from global warming to global boiling. The Grand Imam emphasized Islam’s position on environmental stewardship, advocating respect and protection for the environment as a divine command. He stressed the responsibility of humans in preserving the earth and its elements, warning against the consequences of environmental degradation. Dr. Al-Tayeb concluded with a call to end wars and violence, particularly in Palestine, and expressed his concern for the vulnerable and oppressed. His plea was for the cessation of destructive actions that threaten not only the environment but also human lives and future generations.

The writer is the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders