Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir, a faculty member at Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Philosophy, delivered the opening speech on “Islam and the Climate Crisis” at the Ulil Albab International Conference: Islam, Environment and Technologies (UAICIET 2025), organized by the Faculty of Islamic Sciences of Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII). Özdemir evaluated the theological and ethical dimensions of the climate crisis.
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir, a faculty member at Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Philosophy, and Vice President of American Islamic College, participated as an opening speaker at the Ulil Albab International Conference: Islam, Environment and Technologies (UAICIET 2025), organized by the Faculty of Islamic Sciences of Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII).
“The Climate Crisis Is a Matter of Moral Responsibility”
In his speech titled “Islamic Studies and the Theological and Ethical Dimensions of the Climate Crisis: Towards a New Eco-Teology,” Prof. Dr. Özdemir emphasized that Islamic theology and theological studies need to be restructured in moral, spiritual, and civilizational dimensions to address climate change, the most serious crisis in human history.
Stating that the climate crisis is not merely a scientific or political problem but also a crisis of moral consciousness and responsibility, Özdemir pointed out that the principles of mizan (balance), adl (justice), and rahmet (mercy) are fundamental moral tenets established in the Quran for the protection of the Earth.
“Exemplary Leadership with a 'Green Islam' Approach”
Prof. Dr. Özdemir, referring to his long-standing academic relations with environmental movements in Indonesia, stated that the country demonstrates exemplary leadership in environmental awareness with its 'Green Islam' approach.
He assessed the Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) designation of global warming as “fasād fī al-arḍ” (corruption on Earth) in Fatwa No. 86, issued in 2023, as a “theological turning point.”
He also praised eco-friendly educational institutions such as the Green Istiqlal Mosque and Daarul ‘Uluum Lido as concrete examples of Islam’s environmental ethics.
A New Eco-Teology Is Needed!
In his speech, drawing from thinkers such as Gazâlî, Said Nursî, and Thomas Berry, Prof. Dr. Özdemir called for a “New Story”—an eco-theology based on life, responsibility, and mercy—that resonates with the spirit of our age.
Özdemir said; “Islamic studies must once again become a realm of cosmic imagination; scholars, jurists, and poets together must write humanity’s next sacred story—a story of belonging, balance, and gratitude.”
Prof. Dr. Özdemir invited Muslim educators and academics to integrate the Quran’s cosmology, environmental ethics, and principles of sustainability into educational curricula, research, and social life. He stated that such a renewal could transform faith into a powerful moral force for global ecological justice.
About Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII):
Established in 1945, Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) is one of Indonesia’s oldest private universities. Known for its pioneering approach integrating Islamic sciences with modern disciplines, UII holds international prestige in research, environmental awareness, and ethics. The Faculty of Islamic Sciences plays a pioneering role in interdisciplinary academic work addressing the relationship between faith, morality, and sustainability.