Call for Evidence: Saving God's World: Caring for Creation and Climate Action

Call for Evidence: Saving God's World: Caring for Creation and Climate Action

Deadline: 12th September 2021

Stewardship of the environment is a belief common to all the world religions and faith action on climate change is rooted in scriptures and religious beliefs. With adherents of the world religions making up around two thirds of the global population, and projections showing their numbers to increase in the coming decades, the role of religions in climate justice has never been more urgent. 

For Muslims, there is both a moral and existential argument for faith action on climate change. Muslim majority countries around the world are exposed to particular vulnerability from the adverse impacts of climate change, such as drought, flooding, extreme heat, desertification, rising sea levels and water security. Moreover, demographic projections suggest Muslims will make up almost a third of the global population by 2060 and Muslims globally possess the youngest median age of all religions making climate change an acute intergenerational issue (Pew Research Center, 2017).

Religions have become more vocal about their moral leadership on climate action and many faith-based environmental initiatives have emerged in recent years. In 2015, the Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change was issued impressing upon global leaders "to work the greatest good we can for all the species, individuals, and generations of God’s creatures." In the same year, Pope Francis issued an encyclical,  'Laudato Si' - Care of our common home' addressing the need to "bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development" to tackle the effects of climate change. It is almost 20 years since Christian faith leaders signed the Oxford Declaration on Global Warming (2002).

As we approach COP26 in November, The All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims is interested to explore dimensions of ecotheology, Islamic environmental ethics, and the wider role of religious communities in caring for creation through faith-inspired environmental activism. 

This call for evidence invites submissions to areas of inquiry as follows:

• "Greening" interpretations of religious texts to promote normative ethical frameworks on environmentalism and the role of religious scholars in promoting climate justice

• Initiatives on Muslim climate change activism in the UK, both Muslim-led and general faith-based collaborations

• "Greening" practices and behaviours demonstrating the role faith communities can play in environmental activism, eg community advocacy, promotion of mitigating behaviours

• Examples of programmes, projects or initiatives developed by faith-based organisations to tackle habits and mindsets within faith communities that contribute to the root causes of climate change

• Collaborations between faith and non-faith actors to promote advocacy and/or activism at local, national and global level

Submit to admin@appgbritishmuslims.org

Call for Evidence: Inquiry on British Muslim Response to Covid-19

Call for Evidence

Inquiry on British Muslim Response to Covid-19

Deadline for Submissions: SUNDAY 26th July 2020

In 2018, the APPG on British Muslims published a report, 'Faith as the Fourth Emergency Service' to highlight the amazing contributions British Muslims charities of all sizes make to community cohesion, health and welfare, and poverty alleviation around the country.

Since the onset of the pandemic and the 23 March lockdown, we have witnessed some incredible initiatives from British Muslim individuals, groups and associations. From setting up mutual aid groups and distributing food parcels to the vulnerable and shielding, to fundraising for the NHS and supporting key workers on the frontline.

To help us document and share this fantastic work, and to challenge the exploitation of the pandemic by far-right groups, we are putting out this call for evidence. Whatever the size of your contribution, wherever in the UK you are active, whoever your beneficiary group, we would love to hear from you. No matter how large or small your operation, we want to shine a light on the outpouring of generosity, compassion and solidarity that we have seen over the past few months.

Written Evidence

Deadline for Submissions: Sunday 26th July 2020. 

Send us your submissions to admin@appgbritishmuslims.org and tell us:

- What area of the UK have you been active in?

- What activity have you been engaged in (e.g. Mutual aid groups, food parcels, fundraising for NHS, feeding the homeless)?

- What motivated your choice of activity, and how are you organised (e.g. individual initiative, mosque-based association, interfaith group)?

- Details of your activities, including photos.

- What have you learnt or appreciated about the pandemic response from Muslim communities?

- What support have you received, whether from the community or statutory agencies, and what support would you welcome?

As we approach the easing of lockdown measures, let us not forget how we have pulled through these extraordinary times. Sharing evidence of the faith-inspired voluntary activism of our communities can help to remind us that we are in this together.

Please share your work with us, and help us bring it into focus.

Supported by Penny Appeal and The World Federation of KSIMC

Call for Evidence Made In Britain: MECONOMICS (Originally posted 26/07/2019)

APPG On British Muslims - Call for Evidence

Made In Britain: MECONOMICS

British Muslim contributions to enterprise and entrepreneurship in the UK has a long and illustrious record demonstrating the zeal, innovation and creativity emerging from their Muslim experiences. The diversity of British Muslims and strong inflection of Islamic religious beliefs has shaped a vibrant business culture within Muslim communities and in economic sectors responsive to and cognisant of the growth potential of Muslim consumer markets at home, and abroad. Women are a leading component of Muslim lifestyle markets and we are keen to better understand the role and cultural significance of Muslim female-led businesses in the 'halal' economy.

The global halal food and lifestyle market is estimated to reach $3.7 trillion in market value in 2019. The recent State of the Global Islam Economy report by Thomson Reuters found that the Muslim Lifestyle sector is growing at twice the rate of the global economy and that by 2030, the Muslim middle class will triple in size to 900 million, boosting consumer demand in markets around the world.

This inquiry will seek to:

· survey the state of the Muslim business sector in the UK, and the barriers faced by Muslim-led businesses to enterprise and entrepreneurship.

· assess the size, contributions and growth potential of the 'halal' economy and the role of UK based businesses in driving global demand for goods and services that are meeting the needs of Muslim (and other ethical) consumers.

· assess the support provided to budding Muslim entrepreneurs through formal methods (start-up loans) and informal networks of mentoring, business advice and networking opportunities.

· highlight the breadth of the Muslim lifestyle market and its future trajectory; barriers to entry, obstacles to growth and promoting deeper integration in mainstream business practice.

· investigate the role of Muslim women led businesses in the 'halal' economy.

We welcome written evidence to our lines of inquiry as specified above.

Written submissions should be sent to the APPG on British Muslims - admin@appgbritmuslims.org - by Monday 14th October 2019.

Oral evidence sessions will start in November 2019. Further details will be published on the APPG on British Muslims website in due course.

Supported by The Aziz Foundation, Penny Appeal and The World Federation of KSIMC