JIH panel discusses need for 'Green conscience' to combat climate crisis

Bhopal: The women’s wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) recently organised a national online panel discussion on the occasion of World Environment Day, bringing together academics, activists and environmental advocates to discuss the ecological crisis from the perspective of ethics and personal responsibility.

The discussion, titled “Environmental Crisis: A Test of Ethics and Responsibility,” focused on the view that addressing climate change requires not only scientific and technological solutions but also a transformation in human values and behaviour, Siasat Daily reported.

In her presidential address, JIH national secretary Rahamathunnissa A described the environment as a trust entrusted to humanity and referred to Mahatma Gandhi’s observation that the Earth can meet human needs but not human greed. Drawing on the Islamic concept of stewardship, she argued that environmental degradation is closely linked to social injustice, with vulnerable and marginalised communities bearing the brunt of ecological damage.

Delivering the inaugural remarks, JIH national assistant secretary Sumaiya Maryam described the environmental crisis as a reflection of society’s moral choices. Referring to recent wildfires in Canada and recurring floods in different parts of the world, she said many environmental disruptions could be traced to unsustainable lifestyles.

Social anthropologist Dr. Manju J. Manoj from Kerala highlighted the vulnerability of fishing and forest-dependent communities, noting that climate-related disruptions often worsen existing social and economic inequalities. Climate researcher Chitra Gangwani of New Delhi pointed to the growing challenges faced by tier-2 and tier-3 cities, which she said are increasingly exposed to water shortages and climate-induced disasters while lacking adequate institutional and financial support.

Goa-based environmentalist and architect Talula D’Silva criticised development models reliant on excessive use of concrete and advocated nature-based construction practices. She argued that unchecked consumption amounts to a form of intergenerational exploitation that undermines the rights of future generations.

Social activist Sumaiya Haseeb Sheikh from Ahmedabad called for moving beyond symbolic campaigns and performative environmentalism, stressing the need for sustained community participation. Educator Fakhra Tabassum from Chhattisgarh underscored the importance of climate education from an early age, saying that practices such as waste segregation, resource conservation and tree planting help foster a culture of sustainability.

The symposium concluded with a collective appeal for the development of a “green conscience,” with speakers urging ethics-driven lifestyles and collective action to address environmental challenges.