Combining stewardship of the planet with solidarity with those who need help

Today’s climate summit for Mayors and Governors at the Vatican is yet another example of the integral role of religion in overcoming the greatest challenge facing humanity.

As someone of Islamic faith, it is a moment of profound honour to be invited to meet His Holiness Pope Francis, not least because of the Holy Father’s inspirational leadership on the climate crisis. Through the groundbreaking Laudato si’, Pope Francis issued a clarion call to “every person living on this planet” regarding the urgent need to care for our common home. In his encyclical, the Holy Father made the case for why stewardship of the Earth is not just a moral obligation but a sacred duty for Catholics as well as believers of other faiths.

The Pope’s enduring efforts to reach across religious traditions serves as a reminder that faith is not a catalyst for division but a mainspring for unity. Indeed, in Islam, we are taught that the “Earth is green and beautiful, and Allah has appointed you his stewards over it.” From the concept of “tikkun olam” in Judaism, to the ancient teachings of Hindu dictums and the scriptures of many other religions, we see similar values of reverence for nature and concern for the future of our home.

Regardless of the differing beliefs we live our lives by, we share a collective duty as custodians of this planet. We inherited it from the generation that came before, and our shared goal is to pass on a sustainable one to the generation that comes after. And by working between faith traditions on the climate crisis, we double our gains. Not only do we make progress in addressing the great challenge of our era, but we also build respect, friendships and compassion in the process.

As His Holiness teaches, the climate crisis is also intimately related to the dignity of human life. Laudato si' highlights the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on the poor, as well as the ecological debt which exists between the Global North and South. We must therefore lend our voices and resources to support climate resilience efforts and advocate for climate justice. Whether in London or across the world, it is the most vulnerable – those who are least responsible for this catastrophe – who are forced to shoulder the heaviest burden of its consequences. As such, we are duty bound to combine stewardship of the planet with solidarity with those who need help most.  

For my part as Mayor of London, I am proud to have turned the city I lead into a beacon of climate and environmental progress the world over. Our air is now dramatically cleaner, half a million new trees have been planted and we have begun a rewilding revolution. We should also take heart from the progress made around the world. Paris has a Mayor who has transformed how people navigate the City of Light; California has a Governor who is challenging the most powerful, well-funded interest group the world has ever seen; and Santiago has a leader who is safeguarding the land and all living things for his people.

Even with the strides forward in London and in other cities and regions, we are falling short in our shared duty to protect our planet. Last year was the hottest ever seen, our oceans have hit the hottest temperature on record, while everything which sustains life on Earth is under threat as never before. We cannot however allow indignation to melt into resignation.

As Catholics across the world prepare to mark this most sacred year, the Holy Father has chosen hope as the message for the forthcoming Jubilee. Because hope, as scripture teaches “does not disappoint”. Irrespective of faith, there is a lesson for us all. Hope is the eternal agent of change. It translates defeat into triumph, cynicism into determination. The hope of a healthier, brighter, more equitable tomorrow for all people is within our reach. By being grounded in moral conviction and guided by the principles of justice and solidarity, the Holy Father has shown us how to seize it. In that spirit, let us work towards a world where the dignity of every human being is upheld, the beauty of nature is preserved and the future of our common home is assured.