PRESS RELEASE
Today, the Muslim Council of Britain released its 6-Step Guide to Eco-Friendly Mosques; a resource dedicated to raising greater awareness around climate change within Mosque communities and providing tips on how Mosques can become more sustainable. The guide also introduces two sets of pledges, aimed at engaging both Mosques, and British Muslims, in climate action at a grassroots level.
The release of this guide follows a series of MCB interventions this year, including:
- Delivery of the inaugural Environmental Sustainability Conference for Muslims, in partnership with Muslims in Britain Research Network (MBRN) in collaboration with the Muslims in Britain Research Network and the Sustainable Consumption Institute at Manchester University;
- a Great Big Green Week 2021 campaign in partnership with Muslim Charities Forum (MCF), which included a national ‘Green Jummah’ in which Mosques across the country delivered a Friday sermon on the importance of environmentalism in Islam, and
- joining 100s of national organisations as part of The Climate Coalition’s call to action, and uniting with national Muslim-led organisations of the UK and Ireland respectively, to call upon PM Boris Johnson to act decisively in the pursuit of climate justice ahead of COP 26.
Zara Mohammed, Secretary General of the MCB has also since attended COP26 and related events; delivering the key note speech at an event inaugurating the solarisation of Glasgow Central Mosque, whilst also taking the opportunity to endorse to Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change.
Commenting on the release of the MCB’s eco-guide for Mosques, Secretary General Zara Mohammed, said:
“Environmental sustainability, reducing wastefulness and showing kindness to living beings are integral concepts in Islam. Muslim communities in the UK are becoming increasingly engaged in climate action; be it projects aimed at promoting environmental sustainability within Mosque communities, reducing waste, or promoting greater awareness of climate justice in collaboration with partners from different faith and community groups.
“With COP26 coming to a close, it is vital that we seize the moment to encourage sustainability and climate action in society. We hope the MCB’s Guide to Eco-Friendly Mosques, and the associated pledges, prove effective in replicating the vital environmental work already ongoing across British Muslim communities.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- For any media enquiries, please contact: [email protected]
- The MCB’s 6-Step Guide to Eco-Friendly Mosques can be accessed here.
- View the joint statement issued alongside national Muslim groups in the UK and Ireland calling for decisive climate action at COP26 here.
- The MCB was a signatory to The Climate Climate Coalition’s open letter to PM Boris Johnson – see here.
- The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella body with over 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and professional networks.