Nurture Nature Now: The Impact of Climate Change

In an interview with Quartz on July 11, 2017, Mawlana Hazar Imam said:

“Climate change is a major threat to much of the developing world, and it needs to be looked at with great care … I have been more than worried — I say sincerely — more than worried about situations where everybody, the local population, have known for decades that they are living at high risk and nothing was done about it.”

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is working with our brothers and sisters in communities facing various climate threats. Initiatives include:

• identifying communities at high risk and relocating or protecting them
• working with farmers and communities to adapt to climate change – e.g. using hardier crops or implementing rainwater harvesting systems
• finding new opportunities for those facing economic threats due to climate change
• improving the management of natural resources, such as tree-planting initiatives
• promoting the use of efficient stoves that cut fuelwood consumption in half
• strengthening health and education systems to build stronger communities
• being a founding partner of the Earthshot prize, considered to be the most prestigious global environment prize in history, launched last year by Prince William with the AKDN

We have heard Hazar Imam’s concerns about climate change and some of the work that the AKDN is doing. How can we do our part to reduce the risk to our health, social well-being, and economic well-being? Can we better connect with one another as families and communities in order to discuss these threats and find solutions?

Learn more about sustainable living and the Nurture Nature Now initiative.

Sources:

• “A rare interview with Mawlana Hazar Imam on poverty, climate change, and demystifying Islam”, Quartz  
• “Adapting to Climate Change”, Aga Khan Development Network  
• “Environmental stewardship”, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat
• “Earthshot Prize winners offer inspiration to all”, The.ismaili