Adapting to the climate crisis

Adapting to the climate crisis 

The breakdown of the world’s weather systems is the biggest threat facing humanity today. 

The effects of global warming are being felt the world over, but this is particularly true in countries and communities in which Islamic Relief helps people emerge from poverty and suffering. Unless emissions stop, we all face a catastrophe of food insecurity and social breakdown which will lead to the deaths of billions of people.

Islamic Relief supports all efforts that will prevent this from happening. 

What we’re doing to help 

Since at least 2007, Islamic Relief has been contributing to efforts to address the worst impacts of climate change and to limit global warming to 1.5°C. In 2015, we brought together international scholars to construct the Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change, while the Climate Change Policy of the same year, revised in 2018, outlined our positions on these issues.

As global temperatures rise, it is essential that people and systems adapt and are prepared for the changes we know will be taking place. In response to the climate crisis we campaign and advocate for climate change adaptation.

The new Islamic Relief Climate Policy responds to the rapidly changing landscape, to present positions on the developing challenges. 

Promoting Sustainable Development 

 With a focus on sustainable development, Islamic Relief’s programmes are designed to help protect the environment, while providing vulnerable people better access to essential services, and the opportunity to improve their livelihoods and lift themselves out of poverty, permanently. 

A locally-led approach 

Across the globe we are raising awareness of climate change and the adaptation measures that can be taken to build resilience among the most vulnerable communities. 

We develop new principles to capture our locally-led approach to adaptation, ensuring that local knowledge, ideas and experience are at the heart of how we support communities worst affected by climate change.

We have implemented climate-smart solutions for farmers in drought-affected parts of Ethiopia; helped people in Pakistan to better prepare for the changing climate; and assisted families in Kenya to find more climate-resilient ways to earn a living in the face of increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather patterns, to name a few. 

We aim to adopt the below when designing our programmes: 

• In considering humanitarian and development interventions, current and future vulnerabilities and capacities of individuals and communities must be thoroughly assessed in relation to hazards and exposure to climate breakdown.
  • Climate action needs to address the root causes of vulnerabilities, including gender discrimination, socio-political and economic disparities.
  • Removing entrenched inequalities must be at the centre of adaptation efforts.
  • Successful adaptation must be driven by, and connect with, local priorities and the knowledge of local people.
  • Vulnerable and marginalised people must meaningfully participate in and lead adaptation decisions.
• Risk, resilience, sustainability and climate knowledge and actions need to go hand-in- hand.
• Effective climate action must be aligned with disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.
• Resources must be redirected to measures, including adequate social protection, that build resilience and uphold the rights of women and marginalised communities.
• Successful adaptation must be locally led and people centred.
• Women and girls must be protected from the heightened risk of harm due to the effects of climate breakdown.