Universitas Djuanda

Written By:
Dr. Ir. Burhanudin Malik, M.Appl.Sc.
(Secretary of Animal Husbandry Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Djuanda University)

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The international community commemorates 23 June as the Bonn Convention Day. It dates back to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) held in Bonn, Germany, in 2017. Political leaders, non-state actors, and environmental activists from around the world attended this conference to discuss plans to overcome climate change. Commemorating this event reminds us about the importance of developing our awareness of the impacts and ways to deal with this fundamental issue.?

Climate change is a prolonged alteration of temperature and climate patterns on earth. This phenomenon initially occurred naturally, yet since the 1800s, it has been driven faster and more by anthropogenic activities, mainly through fossil fuel burning in industry and transportation. When gas, oil, and coal are burnt, greenhouse gasses (GHGs), including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, are generated. Land and forest clearing, agriculture, and animal farming emit carbon dioxide. Methane is also produced from landfills for garbage and animal manure. These GHGs are trapped and blanket the atmosphere, blocking Earth radiations reflection back to space. These GHS effects result in increased earth temperature or global warming.?

Global warming resulting from the emission of GHGs is alarming. In the latest Bonn Climate Change Conference conducted on 16 June 2022, it was reported that the production of GHGs from anthropogenic activities had warmed the earth at the quickest rate, ever-increasing its temperature by 1.5 C in the next 20 years.?

The Impacts of global warming on human life are significant. Global warming has been found to induce climate patterns, including increased worldwide precipitation and increased intensity and frequency of storms, floods, and drought. At the regional level, these may lead to reduced food crop production, food deprivation, and famine. Changing precipitation and evaporation patterns may also have adverse effects on water resources. Sea level rise and extreme weather may damage infrastructures. Direct and indirect effects of global warming on peoples economic activity, housing, and health are also observed.

United Nations (UN) has declared that to create a more livable earth. Wide-ranging actions must be taken to reduce GHGs emissions by half by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. The responsibility is not only on governments and businesses but also on individuals. All of us are expected to actively participate in lowering the rate of global temperature increase and help preserve the planet for our next generation. Using less energy at home and office, shifting to renewable energy, buying local and seasonal foods, eating plant-based meals, and composting organic garbage and leftovers are some examples of environmentally friendly activities everyone can do. Furthermore, we can start from 10 impactful actions, including 1) saving energy at home, 2) walking, biking, or taking public transport, 3) eating more vegetables, 4) considering your travel, 5) throwing away less food, 6) reduce, reuse, recycle, and repair, 7) change your homes source of energy, 8) switch to an electric vehicle, 9) choose eco-friendly products, and 10) speak up.?

The success of these actions will depend on how serious and concerned we are about the importance of preserving our earth. Therefore, holding to positive values originating from the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) will undoubtedly strengthen our belief and efforts in making the earth a sustainable place to live a prosperous life for us and our next generations. Many Quranic verses emphasize the importance of preserving and avoiding the planet from destruction. For example, it is stated in Quran Chapter 30 (Ar-Rum) Verses 41-42:

Destruction has spread on land and sea because of what peoples hands have done so that Allah may cause them to taste the consequences of some of their deeds, and perhaps they might return to the Right Path.

Say, O Prophet, "Travel throughout the land and see what was the end of those destroyed before you?most of them were polytheists."

In one of his teachings, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "Do not waste water even if you were at a running stream."?

In short, let us start doing whatever we can to help preserve the environment. We can start with small things, and from now.??