Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir, a faculty member of the Department of Philosophy at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Philosophy at Chicago American Islamic College, participated as a distinguished speaker at the first annual 'Faith and Environment' themed conference organized by Kenya-based Kabarak University.
The First Annual Faith and Environment Conference, organized by Kenya's Kabarak University, was held online.
This year's conference theme was "Climate Reparations: Harnessing the Power of Indigenous Knowledge, Faiths, and Philosophies for Justice."
Özdemir drew attention to the moral and spiritual dimensions of the climate crisis
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir shared his views in a panel consisting of international academics, religious leaders, and environmental thinkers during the session titled "The Necessary Link Between Religious Values and Environmental Protection: An Ecumenical Dialogue."
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Özdemir, drawing attention to the moral and spiritual dimensions of the climate crisis, emphasized that the Islamic concepts of "khilafah" (human responsibility on Earth) and "mizan" (balance) form the basis of an ethical approach to the preservation of creation.
He also stated that he was part of the team that prepared the text "Mizan: A Covenant with the Earth," and explained that they reinterpreted the concept of "caliph" in the context of individual responsibility.
"Religions possess a great treasure that can guide humanity towards ecological justice"
Özdemir emphasized that true ecological transformation is possible not only through technological and policy changes but also through a renewed awareness of humanity's spiritual and moral responsibility towards the Earth; "Religions possess a great treasure of wisdom that can guide humanity towards ecological justice. The moral imagination of our faiths must rise to a level that can respond to the planetary crisis. We should define climate reparations not merely as economic compensation but as a moral and spiritual restoration, a duty based on a covenant to heal the Earth."
The Faith and Environment Initiative, a global dialogue platform…
The Faith and Environment Initiative, launched in 2022 within Kabarak University, has become a global dialogue platform for academics working at the intersection of religion, ecology, and justice.
Having organized numerous online seminars in recent years, the initiative investigates solutions offered by indigenous knowledge systems and faith-based approaches to environmental problems.
About Kabarak University:
Founded in Kenya in 2002, Kabarak University is an institution of higher education based on Christian ethics, recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, moral values, and social responsibility. Certified with ISO 9001:2015, the university is one of Africa's leading institutions in research, publishing, and social justice.