Environmental Protection in Islam
Importance of environmental protection in Islam
Environmental protection and ecological safety are essential in Islam, as the religion emphasizes responsibility and responsible use of the Earth's resources. The teachings of Islam promote the idea that humans are trustees (Khalifa) of the Earth. They are morally obligated to care for and protect the environment for present and future generations.
Islam is the source of knowledge. It is a complete code of life for humanity's education, order, and welfare until the Day of Judgment. It is a comprehensive and universal religion that teaches success and prosperity to man. Several essential aspects highlight the importance of environmental protection in Islam.
Responsibility and Accountability:
Islamic teachings teach that humans are responsible for their actions and will be held accountable for how they treat the Earth and its resources. The Qur'an says, "It is He who has made you successors (khalifa) on earth" (Qur'an 6:165), highlighting the role of humans as caretakers of the Earth. Muslims are encouraged to act responsibly and preserve the environment to fulfill this trust.
Creation as Signs of God:
The Holy Qur'an repeatedly mentions signs of God's creation in nature, encouraging believers to contemplate the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
Muslims are commanded to observe and appreciate the environment as a manifestation of Allah's wisdom and power. This understanding fosters respect and reverence for nature, motivating environmental conservation efforts.
Prohibition of extravagance in Islam:
Extravagance is forbidden in Islam, and extravagance in the use of resources. The Qur'an says, "Eat and drink, but do not be excessive; verily, He does not like the excessive" (Qur'an 7:31). This principle extends to all aspects of life, including the consumption of natural resources. Muslims are encouraged to use resources wisely, avoid overuse, and minimize waste, recognizing the limited nature of the Earth's resources.
Conservation of Life and Biodiversity:
Islam emphasizes the sanctity of life and the importance of its conservation. The destruction of habitats and ecosystems threatens countless species, leading to biodiversity loss and imbalances in the natural world. Islamic teachings promote biodiversity conservation and the protection of endangered species, recognizing the interconnectedness of all living things.
Water and sanitation:
Water is considered a precious resource in Islam, and sanitation is essential to the faith. Muslims are taught to conserve water and avoid unnecessary waste. Islam emphasizes the importance of keeping the environment clean and pure because cleanliness is related to spiritual purity. Trusted source
Prohibition of pollution:
Islam prohibits activities that cause environmental harm or pollution. The concept of "haram" (haram) extends to actions that result in environmental degradation. Pollution of air, water, and land is considered a sin, as it harms both humans and other creatures.
These principles and teachings highlight the profound importance of environmental protection in Islam. Muslims are encouraged to live a sustainable life, mindful of their environmental impact, by working actively to protect and preserve the environment. Islam has not only ordered personal cleanliness and purity but also taught us to adopt extreme cleanliness and purity at the individual and collective level. Islam forbids harming the pure nature of any person or harming ordinary people.
In Islam, it is also forbidden to spit in inappropriate places. The Holy Quran orders the cleanliness of oneself, one's house, neighborhood, environment, roads, paths, rivers, and canals. It also describes the definition of people.
Allah loves the repentant and the pure: Al-Baqarah(222):
Water is the backbone of any human society. Islam emphasizes the avoidance of wastage and water pollution and teaches manners of toileting. Therefore, Islam guides us thoroughly in this and other areas of human life and urges us to refrain from all actions that cause environmental pollution.
Islamic teachings regarding environmental protection:
Islam, a religion of nature and moderation, has given various instructions for the survival and conservation of the environment and natural resources such as forests, water, and land.
To change the system of nature, create distortions in it, and violate the arrangement and order that Allah Almighty has made for the cleanliness of the human environment, peace, and security is the name of 'corruption.
Man's extravagance of natural resources and their unlimited use is a type of corruption on Earth that the Quran strictly prohibits.
Translation: ''And do not make mischief in the land after the reformation'' (Al-A'raf 65):
The corruption prohibited in the above verse does not only mean religious, moral, and social breakdown. Instead, it also includes the distortion and disturbance of the physical system of the universe. Sharia requires protecting the environment from all kinds of pollution and harmful elements. Moreover, these purposes included in Sharia contain spices.
Changing the system of nature, creating distortions in it, and violating the arrangement and order that Allah Almighty has made for the cleanliness of the human environment, peace, security, peace, and tranquillity is called 'corruption.
Man's extravagance of natural resources and their unlimited use is a type of corruption on Earth that the Qur'an strictly prohibits. Islam, a religion of nature and moderation, has given various teachings for the survival and protection of the environment and natural resources such as forests, water resources, and land resources, which are as follows.
Necessary of moderated life:
The teaching of Islam is that life should be lived in moderation, so Allah Almighty says:
''Eat and drink, and do not waste.'' (Al-A'raf: 31).
"And eat and drink, but do not overdo it."
''And in another place, the divine decree says.''
''And do not spend extravagantly, for He does not like the extravagant.'' (Al-An'am: 141).
"And do not transgress; Allah does not like transgressors."
In the eyes of the Qur'an, corruption is everything far from wisdom and correctness and weakens the ability to gain profit. It is also applied, which gradually loses its actual utility.
Divine decree: ''And when he turneth away (from thee), his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah loveth not mischief.'' (Al-Baqarah: 205).
"And when they are far away from you, all their running is in causing mischief in the land and destroying crops and offspring, and Allah does not like mischief."
Allah invites us to contemplate the Earth, air, water, living and dead creatures, trees, rocks, mountains, seas, and other world wonders to recognize and understand His knowledge, power, and Lordship. Has pointed to this system of balance of the universe; thus, he said:
Allah is the creator of everything. Indeed, He knows what you do (Al-Naml: 88).
"This is the work of Allah who established all things."
And on the authority of Hazrat Abu Umamah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"To me, the most desirable among people is a believer who is in a modest state, who prays well, who is anonymous, who does not have any special arrangement among people, whose sustenance is as much as is needed, and who is patient with him." (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 4117)
Also, you have described wealth as a sign of success, so it is narrated on the authority of Abdullah bin Umro that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Successful is he who brings Islam and gets sustenance as much as he needs, and may Allah make him satisfied with the wealth he gets." (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1054).
Also, you (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) have described spending on your family and friends without extravagance and scarcity as equivalent to spending in the way of Allah. So He said:
"When a person spends on his family without need, his spending is equal to spending in the way of Allah."
And because of his aversion to extravagance, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed for his family as much as he needed, so it was narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O Allah, Grant sustenance to the family of Muhammad (peace be upon him).
As much as they need." (Sahih Muslim Hadith No. 1055) The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Be correct in your actions, and adopt an attitude of moderation." (Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith No. 4375, 7037).
These blessed hadiths clearly show that greed is evil and that moderation is necessary. If the world continues to progress with moderation, moderation will also maintain a balanced system and the environment. It will be pleasant to be healthy; there will be protection and development.
Importance of Plantation in Islam:
One of the teachings of Islam is to plant more trees, so the divine command is:
And Allah is the one who sent down water from the sky, so We brought forth with it plants of all things, so We brought forth from it green (Al-An'am: 99)
"And, He, it is Who sent down water from the sky, then We took out from it the eyes of everything, then We raised from it green branches."
This verse draws our attention to the causes of greenery. The importance of planting trees can also be estimated from this hadith, in which Hazrat Jabir narrated that the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, said:
"Whoever plants a plant and eats something from it will become a charity for him, and whatever is stolen will become a charity for him until the day of resurrection." Sahih Muslim Hadith No. 1552.
And it is narrated on the authority of Hazrat Anas that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever plants a plant or cultivates a Muslim and a bird, human or an animal eats it, it will become a charity for him." (Bukhari Sharif Hadith No. 2320, 6012)
And by another method, while encouraging plantation, He said:
"Whoever plants a plant, he will be given a reward equal to the fruit that grows from that plant." (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 23520)
Jalil-ul-Qadr Zahid and Abid Sahabi Hazrat Abul-Darda explained by his behavior that planting trees is of great importance in Islam and is not an expression of worldliness and greed for worldly possessions. Still, it is an act of worship and reward, making the dry and barren land lush and green. Making is Sunnah.
Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) first introduced the concept of green conservation. Therefore, it is narrated on the authority of Abdullah bin Habshi that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever cuts a berry tree, Allah will make his head dark in Hell." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No. 5239)
Protection of Animals in Islam:
In the teachings of Islam, it is forbidden to kill animals unjustly because they are one of the essential elements of the environment. Therefore, it is narrated from Sharir bin Suwayd that the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, said:
"Whoever kills a bird for fun, he will cry before Allah Almighty on the Day of Resurrection saying, 'O Lord! So-and-so killed me for fun, and did not kill me for any gain." (Sunan Nasa'i, Hadith No. 4446)
Prohibition of Genocide in Islam:
''One of the teachings of Islam is that no living creature should be slaughtered because every living creature has a social existence, and like a human being, it is a community,'' as it is said:
''Moreover, nothing is on the Earth, nor a bird that flies in its wings, except for nations like you.''
"And there is no animal that walks on the earth and no bird that flies in the air with its two arms, but they are all nations like you, and we have not left any difficulty in our Book."
It was found that there are other creatures in the universe, like humans, which are a species. They also have characteristics that separate one kind from another, so each has a specific instinct, consciousness, and perception.
There are emotions, and within each category, there is a consciousness of its collective being, which prompts it to act as a component of a unit for the survival of its collective existence and in the fulfillment of its specific purpose of creation. Every individual has to play their role.
When every living being is a social being, it is an important part and essential element of the environment, so it is not right to eradicate the entire species. Therefore, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
If it were not for the reality that dogs are also Ummah, I would have ordered them to kill, so kill the pure black dog among them." (Sunna Abi Dawood Hadith No. 2845)
In addition, the black dog refers to bit-eating and evil dogs that attack humans. The poison spreads in the body due to their bite, so this hadith shows that the wisdom of Allah is implicit in the creation of every creature.
Moreover, hidden and evil creatures are not devoid of benefits. Hence, breeding any living creature is incorrect, so there is no problem taking advantage of dogs that do not attack humans in guarding and other matters.
Prohibition of air pollution:
One of the teachings of Islam is to bury the dead. While one of its purposes is to honor human beings, another is to prevent the air from contaminating bodies with pollution and odors.
In the hadiths, it has been declared obligatory to bury the dead, and one of the rights of the dead over the living is to attend his funeral for prayer and burial. A hadith states that a Muslim has five rights over a Muslim:
1 Responding to greetings.
2 Accepting invitations.
3 Attending funerals.
4 Visiting the sick and checking his mood.
5 When a person sneezes, say Alhamdulillah.
6 So, in response, say 'Yarhamkullah' (May Allah have mercy on you). (Sunan Ibn Majah hadith number 1435).
From the study of the Holy Quran, it is known that from the beginning of creation, Allah Almighty had put the burial method in humans, so Cain could not bear the popularity of Abel and killed him. Hide his brother's body.
Prohibition of open littering:
One of the teachings of Islam is that dirt should not be spread open so that the atmosphere is not polluted and poisoned, so the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has ordered to bury phlegm.
"Sweeping phlegm inside the mosque is a sin, and its expiation is to bury it." (Sahih Muslim Hadith No. 552)
And in one hadith:
"Spitting in the mosque is a sin, and its expiation is to bury it." (Sahih Muslim Hadith No. 552)
Moreover, it is narrated on the authority of Hazrat Abu Dharr that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
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"I was present with the good and bad deeds of my Ummah, so I saw among its good deeds that something disliked was removed from the path, and among its evil deeds, (Sahih Muslim Hadith No. 552)
In these holy hadiths, the specification of the mosque is to describe more indecency and ugliness; otherwise, it is the order of every public place that malicious objects should be covered.
Prohibition of excessive storage of water:
One of Islam's teachings is that water should not be stored for the benefit of others in need.
"Muslims share in three things: water, grass, and fire." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No. 3477)
Imprisonment of a "Muslim" is accidental; otherwise, this is the order of the ordinary people, so it is evident in a hadith:
"People share in three things: water, grass, and fire" (Musnad Al-Harith Hadith No. 449).
It is not correct to wastewater:
Water is essential for the life and survival of every living thing on Earth. Therefore, Allah says, moreover, we made of the water everything alive, if you believe (Prophets: 30)
"And we have created a living thing from water, do you still not believe?"
Because of water's importance, Allah Almighty has placed three parts of water and one part of land on the Earth, so there are one billion forty million cubic kilometers of water on the planet. 17% of it is on the surface of the world, but 97% is land. The water is in the form of oceans, which cover about 70.8% of the Earth's area and are salty and unusable for humans.
We call it fresh water. Fresh and usable water is at the poles through icebergs or deep ice sheets. Snowy water is usually pollution-free, but the proportion of snow water is only one percent, and two percent is fresh and usable.
Consumption is obtained from water, rivers, streams, canals, lakes, ponds, and wells. The amount of usable water for this purpose is significantly less. Therefore, the value and price of water are very high, given that Islam teaches that it should not be wasted.
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "There will be some people in this Ummah who will exceed the limit in purity and supplication." (Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith No. 96)
From this, it is known that using or wasting water without reason disrespects this great blessing.
Prohibition of polluting water:
One of Islam's teachings is that water should not be polluted because all living organisms depend on it. From a medical point of view, water efficiency in the living body is 90% higher than that of other things, including food and air.
The body's dissolution process occurs through water. Still, water efficiency is also essential for removing harmful elements from the body's exterior and interior.
On the other hand, water is a universal solution that can be contaminated by anything. Today, water pollution is the most critical and significant problem, so after air pollution, it has become the most severe environmental problem.
One of Islam's most influential and fair teachings to protect water from pollution is to avoid urinating and defecating in standing and running water because urine and feces pollute the water. It is one of the most dangerous causes because many diseases, such as cholera, typhoid, and inflammation of the liver and stomach, occur due to them.
"Avoid the places that cause three curses: (1) defecating on the water, (2) defecating on the road, (3) defecating in shady places." (Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith No. 26)
The reason for the prohibition of defecation on the banks of ghats or canals, drains, and rivers is that the effects of dirt will reach the water and pollute it.
Likewise, The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade urinating in stagnant water, as he said:
"None of you should urinate in water that has stagnated, then bathe in it." (Bukhari Sharif Hadith No. 239)
It is mentioned explicitly since stagnant water can be highly contaminated. Urinating in running water is explicitly prohibited, as Hazrat Jabir narrates: "The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade urinating in stagnant water."
Therefore, the meaning of these holy hadiths is why a wise person can urinate in this water, which he needs for ablution bathing.
Medically, by urinating in water, the germs of the disease called "Bilharzia" (Bilharzia) spread in water, especially in stagnant water. And when it finds a body, it penetrates it and causes liver inflammation.
Prohibition of bathing in stagnant water in a state of impurity:
One of the teachings of Islam to protect water from pollution is not to bathe in impure water, but to bathe with water while outside, as narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah, The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: He said:
"None of you should bath in stagnant water in a state of impurity." Someone asked: O Abu Huraira! So how should he bathe? He replied: Take water and bathe while outside." (Sahih Muslim Hadith No. 283)
The prohibition of entering the water and taking a bath in this state is impurity because the water is not polluted, even if it is abundant, and the prohibition of putting one's hand into the vessel afterward.
Do not touch the water while waking up from sleep:
One of the teachings of Islam is that when you wake up from sleep, do not dip your hands in the vessel without washing them because dirty hands can contaminate the water. Therefore, it is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"When any one of you wakes up from his sleep, let him not dip his hand into a vessel, until he washes it, for he does not know on what part of his body his hand has touched." (Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith No. 162)
That is, in the state of sleep, the hand becomes contaminated due to falling on different parts of the person.
Order to cover water vessels:
To protect water from pollution and human safety and health, Islamic Shari'ah prohibits any carelessness that may lead to water pollution. It forbids every good practice that protects water from corrosion.
Therefore, one of the teachings of this chain is to cover the vessel of water or other drinks, as it is narrated from Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah RA that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Cover the vessel and close the mouth of the mashkiza and close the door, and put out the lamp, because Satan does not open the mashkiza, and neither opens the door nor opens the vessel, so if you No one should find anything to cover himself with, except that he should put a piece of wood on his vessel and invoke the name of Allah, then he should do so." (Sahih Muslim Hadith No. 2012)
Prohibition of breathing and blowing into a vessel of water:
One of the teachings of Islam is not to breathe in a drinking pot to protect water from contamination, so it is narrated from Hazrat Qatadah that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade living in a tub. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 153) It is in a hadith: The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade blowing into a pot.
The reason for the prohibition is apparent: in the case of breathing or blowing into the vessel, there is a fear that something will appear from the saliva and saliva and fall into the water. Due to the thinness of water, it should stick to and mix with it; thus, the water becomes polluted and variable, and the nature of Salimah abhors its use.
Prohibition of making noise:
In the current era, noise pollution is also a significant environmental problem. To control noise pollution, Islam teaches that it is necessary to moderate the sound, and it is terrible to make excessive noise occasionally.
Quoting the advice of Hazrat Luqman (A.S), it is said: And despise the sound of your voice, if you deny the sound of the goat's voice (Luqman: 19) "and keep your voice slow; surely the most disgusting voice is the voice of a donkey."
From this verse, it is known that it is not right to make a sound by opening the throat so that the ears of the people are deafened.
Therefore, Islam orders that the voice be raised in every situation, as when the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA). Meanwhile, one night on patrol, he saw that he was praying in a low voice, and when Hazrat Umar (RA) passed by the address, Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) saw that he was reciting and praying in a loud voice. When both of them attended the service in the morning, he told Hazrat Abu Bakr that you are praying in a low voice at night.
Hazrat Abu Bakr replied to it. "O Messenger of Allah, I made him speak to the person we were talking with." Then he asked Hazrat Umar if he prayed loudly at night, and Hazrat Umar replied: "I was doing it so that I could sleep." Wake me up and rebuke the devil."
After listening to the answers of both of them, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught moderation and said: "O Abu Bakr! Raise your voice a little, and he said to Hazrat Umar: "O Umar! Lower your voice if humanity If Islamic teachings are followed, then Islam should be protected. Environment and prevention of pollution can ensure that attention is drawn when a man needs a proper idea of the importance of the domain.
Inevitable problems of the present time and protection from environmental pollution:
Nowadays, the environment has become a fundamentally significant, complex problem because the rapid development of man and the revolutions coming into it continue to increase human needs immensely. In seeking luxuries in life, he has polluted his environment. The scarcity of natural resources has arisen.
Due to massive increases in population, deforestation, and increasing pollution, we hear and see accidents like drought, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and cloudbursts. The Earth's temperature is rising, and the soil is losing fertility; the air is becoming dirty, the rivers and seas are becoming polluted, and flora and fauna are becoming unsustainable.
To deal with all these threats, society and students must develop a sense of individual and collective responsibility for environmental awareness. Environmental degradation often results from destroying natural objects around us.
Today, there is an uproar everywhere regarding protecting these natural sources. Such awareness and thinking can be fostered only through environmental education. Almost all countries of the world are struggling with environmental problems. However, developing countries face two types of issues: economic and ecological concerns.
There are three main aspects to the environmental problem:
1: Environmental pollution.
2: Lack of degradation of environmental pollution.
3: Lack of sources.
The environment is a global term that includes all aspects of human life important to humans and other living things. Ecology is the name of the overall system of the environment.
The Oxford English Dictionary states, "Ecology is the branch of biology that studies the interrelation between species and their environment." The dictionary also defines ecology as the study of all public relations.
Air pollution continues to be a problem worldwide. The greenhouse effect is caused by adding CO2 to the atmosphere, burning fossil fuels such as coal and petrol, and fumes emitted by factories and vehicles.
Another threat is the increase in chlorofluorocarbon emissions and spraying, which has led to the depletion of the ozone layer in the atmosphere. These are problems that are wider than the borders of any country. Modern man is living in a world of crisis.
Environmental issues want to attract everyone's attention, so it has become the duty of all men, women, and youth to protect the environment. The individual, society, the state, the country, and the world should work for it.
Different definitions of ecology by environmental thinkers:
According to Krebs, ecology is the study of the interrelationships that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. According to Herr and Oslo, "Republic" refers to the external conditions covering the activities of and influencing a living system or its components. A few scientists, including Odom, have defined ecology as "the study of the integrity and efficiency of ecosystems."
In general terms, ecology is the study of living things, meaning that the environment comprises many things, including light and heat, soil, and water. Terrestrial factors such as trees, plants, animals, and all living things are essential elements of the environment.
Thus, according to scientists, the background is the name given to the conditions formed by the interaction and coordination of various biotic and abiotic factors. All factors can be divided into two broad categories.
Biodiversity:
What is biodiversity? In simple words, biodiversity is life. The Convention on Biological Diversity lays down some guidelines for understanding this concept. Biodiversity refers to the existence of every living thing in the community, including humans, animals, birds, fish, and trees. According to experts, the effects of climate change on biodiversity cannot be denied.
But in our country, human intervention in nature's creations, including illegal hunting of animals and birds, felling of trees, and increase in water and air pollution, is not only harming life. Instead, the essence of this ecological disaster is harm to living organisms. Humans who harm biodiversity are unaware that their lives depend on this biodiversity.
Oxygen is essential for humans, and humans cannot survive without it. The vital elements of everything we consume as food are grown from the Earth, and so are water, wind, clouds, rain, streams, rivers, and oceans. As if all these forms spread out into the universe after passing through a specific process, we serve biodiversity to maintain this process.
Environmental scientists estimate that 150 to 200 species of plants and animals are disappearing from our world every day. Once a species is gone, it is gone forever. Scientists say that the rate at which species are disappearing is unprecedented in cosmic history, only during the era of the dinosaurs. It has not posed a significant threat to species for thousands of millions of years. Now, the loss of species has started again.
Due to natural and anthropogenic processes, rare species of animals and plants, their natural environment, and geographical location are seriously threatened. If these are lost, the planetary system will also be severely affected. Allah has not kept anything in this world in vain.
(ربنا ما خلقت ھذا باطلا) آل عمران 19 Aal Imran 19
Every species of flora and fauna has been assigned a vital task to run this world. The extinction of these species is the extinction of the work for which they are responsible, the result of which every creature in the universe, including man, has to suffer. Plants in the oceans play an essential role in maintaining the ratio of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Their loss due to rising ocean temperatures is believed to be a significant cause of increased greenhouse gas concentrations.
Human life is complex without snakes that eat rats and frogs that eat mosquito eggs. If not, plague and malaria drugs will destroy man. We know the work of some species. But we have yet to learn about the silent result of plants, animals, and especially millions of microbes done by Allah's order to protect and sustain our lives.
We cannot imagine what their loss can do to us. Therefore, to ensure biodiversity, it is essential to plant more trees, not dump waste from factories and houses into the water, and control the emission of toxic fumes.
Sustainable development:
The term sustainable development has been popular in world politics since the 1980s. It is an economic and technical concept that. The objective is the survival of the human population on the planet and the survival of biodiversity, which is declining due to human economic and industrial prosperity activities.
The concept of sustainable development was first formally introduced by the World Commission on Environment and Development, headed by Prime Minister GH Brundtland, in 2004 to enlighten the world on sustainable development.
(Also awarded the Blue Print Award) presented the concept of sustainable development in his report "Our Common Future," also known as the GH Brundtland Report. In this report, GH Brundtland defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Therefore, this definition has three aspects:
They link economic development and policies with an environmental perspective and assess the differences in appropriate proportions. Justice demands that people also consider future generations. The World Commission on Environment and Development presented two basic concepts of sustainable development: The needs of the world's poor should be met, and resources should be used judiciously to meet current and future needs.
Principles of sustainable development:
Essentials of Sustainable Development:
Protection of the environment:
Preventing environmental crises means maximizing conservation and minimizing the exploitation of natural resources. Ecological crises have two aspects: catastrophic disasters and human misdeeds. Achieving power over catastrophe is beyond man's control.
Yes, by controlling one's misdeeds, i.e., excessive exploitation of natural resources, or by being innovative in using them and finding alternatives, natural resources can be made worthy of support for more days. Planned, appropriate, and wise use of natural resources is the only way to preserve them, in other words, to protect the environment.
Conservation does not necessarily mean stopping the use of natural resources; instead, it means maintaining a proper balance between the use of natural resources and their productivity. People consider natural resources as their capital and develop themselves. In other words, the slightest misuse of valuable resources.
Their most minor destruction and their most minor exploitation maintaining the fertility of the wealth, like soil, protecting it from erosion and migration, and trying to re-establish it in case of maximum exploitation of the wealth, like a forest, will be called their conservation.
Conservation of the environment, i.e., preservation of natural resources, is imperative. The world's population has reached 7 billion, which was 5 billion two years ago. Our needs in Gaza, including clothing, Rasal and Risal resources, various types of equipment, and industrial raw materials, have increased many times. Because of this, we are exploiting natural resources in an increasingly inappropriate and destructive manner.
For example, soil erosion and rock slides have increased. Improper land use has reduced productivity. Many regions have depleted their mineral reserves and are now in complete depletion.
We pollute the air and water, which are gifts of nature. Various types of flora and fauna have also been eradicated. In short, man is disturbing the natural balance. The human race will be in danger if the natural balance is concerned. Therefore, protecting natural resources and the environment is essential for human existence and survival.