Indonesia's green Islam: When climate protection becomes a religious | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

• Eco-mosque: Mosques designed and operated with environmental sustainability in mind, incorporating features like solar panels and wastewater recycling.
• Green Fatwa: Religious legal rulings issued by Islamic scholars that address environmental issues and condemn harmful practices.
• Green Islam: An interpretation of Islamic teachings that emphasizes environmental stewardship and responsibility.
• Khalifas of the Environment: A self-proclaimed group of environmental activists who see themselves as guardians of the Earth.
• Religious Greenwashing: The practice of using religious rhetoric or institutions to promote an environmentally friendly image without genuine commitment or action.
• Monoculture: The cultivation of a single crop or species over a large area, often detrimental to biodiversity.

Eco-Mosque Initiative in Indonesia

The Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, is highlighted as the world's first mosque with eco-certification. This initiative demonstrates the Indonesian Muslim community's dedication to environmentalism. Key features of the Istiqlal Mosque include:

• Wastewater Recycling: Treated wastewater is converted into potable drinking water.
• Solar Energy: Approximately one-fifth of the mosque's electricity is generated from over 100 solar panels.

Fared Song, a university lecturer, is leading this movement with the ambition to transform 70% of Indonesia's mosques into eco-friendly sanctuaries. He believes that mosques, representing the 800,000 mosques in Indonesia, should serve as exemplary models for environmental practices.

Islamic Institutions and Climate Change in Indonesia

Indonesia, facing significant climate crisis impacts, is seeing its Islamic institutions actively engage in the fight against climate change. This engagement includes:

• Issuing Green Fatwas: Religious rulings that address environmental concerns.
• Refurbishing Mosques: Implementing sustainable practices in mosque infrastructure.
• Training Environmental Activists: Educating individuals to become environmental advocates.

The video questions whether this movement is setting an example for the wider Islamic world or engaging in "religious greenwashing."

Environmental Education through Islamic Theology

Quran schools are incorporating environmental courses, teaching environmental protection through the lens of Islamic theology. Fared Song is training imams and mushidat (female religious advisors) in Muslim ethics, emphasizing the importance of environmental responsibility. He draws upon over 700 verses in the Quran that address the protection of nature.

Quote: "The prophet said simply plant it. So if you have a seed on your hand on your palm then we simply plant it. Even in the panicking situation and the worst panicking situation might be the end of the day, right?" - Fared Song

Song stresses the urgency of adopting the right strategies for climate change, stating that inaction could lead to millions of victims, worse than any war.

Climate Change Impacts in Indonesia

Indonesia is already experiencing severe climate change effects, including:

• Floods
• Droughts
• Tropical cyclones

Jakarta is sinking at a rate of up to 15 cm per year, with projections suggesting it could be submerged by 2050. This led to the government's decision to relocate the capital to Kalimantan in August 2024.

The "Khalifas of the Environment" and Mount Lamongan

In the eastern highlands of Java, Mount Lamongan is surrounded by a protected tropical forest, a result of a decade-long effort by a group called the "Khalifas of the Environment," or guardians of the Earth.

• Leader: Gus Arc, an Islamic scholar and farmer, leads this initiative.
• Methodology: Each week, Gus Arc gathers 15 volunteers to reforest the slopes of Mount Lamongan using bamboo cuttings and sprouted avocado pits to grow saplings.
• Impact: In 17 years, Gus Arc has helped restore nearly 400 hectares of forest, combating deforestation caused by illegal logging.
• Bamboo's Role: Bamboo is highlighted for its capacity to store up to 1 cubic meter of water per patch of soil, with the hope of generating new water sources.
• Community Reliance: Local communities depend on the ecosystem for harvesting fruits and for livestock grazing.
• Tree Planting: Various trees like cashew and acacia are planted by spreading seeds, with natural propagation also contributing.
• Scale of Reforestation: Since 2008, Gus Arc's initiative has replanted 2 million trees in the region.
• Lake Laka Revival: The initiative has helped revive Lake Laka, a "blue jewel" at the foot of the volcano, which was once endangered by illegal logging and sedimentation. The lake's revival has led to the return of fishermen and an increase in fish farms.

Historical Context: During former President Suharto's rule (until 1998), Indonesia's forests were exploited. While President Abdurrahman Wahid (1999) acknowledged the return of land to local communities, deforestation persisted due to powerful business interests. Lake Laka, formed by volcanic eruption, once had 32 water springs, but illegal logging reduced this to six, causing sedimentation and a 5-meter drop in water levels.

Controversy and Fatwas

Gus Arc's reforestation campaign along Lake Laka's edge, initiated in 2008 to celebrate the Prophet's birthday, faced controversy.

• Council of Ulama's Stance: Indonesia's top Islamic scholars body accused Gus Arc of misusing the Prophet's birthday and issued a fatwa against him, deeming his actions as straying from Islamic Sharia law.
• Personal Impact: Gus Arc and his family faced threats, and he was ostracized in the community, with leaflets distributed in mosques labeling him a non-believer.

Shift in the Council of Ulama's Stance

Three years later, the Council of Ulama underwent an ideological shift, embracing environmentalism.

• Green Fatwas: Since 2011, the council has issued seven green fatwas condemning deforestation, poaching, and plastic pollution.
• Fatwa Structure: Fatwas are structured by quoting the Quran, then the Prophet's sayings, followed by scholars' opinions.
• Impact of Fatwas: A 2015 fatwa against pitfires in Indonesia reportedly led to a decrease in forest and land fires due to increased awareness that fires were forbidden.

Hayu Prau, instrumental in issuing green fatwas, is currently working on a new fatwa targeting river pollution. He emphasizes encouraging social sanctions and creating a sense of shame regarding littering. However, the council's role is limited to empowering communities with knowledge, not directly targeting companies.

Environmental Commitments and Doubts

The reliance on individual responsibility in a country heavily invested in polluting industries raises doubts about the sincerity of its environmental commitments.

• Indonesia's Coal Industry: As Southeast Asia's largest economy, Indonesia is a top coal producer, with 70% of mining in East Kalimantan.
• Environmental Activist's Plight: Environmental activist Mustari Siumbing witnesses the irreversible damage caused by coal mining in Samarinda.
• Mining Permits: Samarinda has 168 coal mining permits, alongside hundreds of illegal mines, contributing to ecosystem destruction and loss of fauna.
• Toxic Lakes: Abandoned mining sites often result in lakes containing poisonous substances due to inadequate land restoration, despite legal requirements.
• Activist Persecution: Between 2014 and 2023, over 130 environmental activists were arrested, harassed, and 12 were assassinated, many campaigning against mining operations.
• Samarinda's Designation: Samarinda is unique as a provincial capital designated as a mining zone, with 70% of the city allocated for coal mining.
• Water Pollution: Mining operations require large amounts of water, leading to excess water seeping into fields and homes due to ineffective drainage systems, causing constant flooding.
• Hazardous Wastewater: Wastewater from mining contains hazardous substances with high pH levels, failing to comply with legal standards. This is suspected to be intentional to avoid investing in wastewater management.

Quote: "It's an example of the savagery of companies that forget themselves, take over ancestral land, and destroy people's economic lives, too." - Mustari Siumbing

Greenwashing and Religious Institutions in Mining

A 2011 fatwa by the Council of Ulama calling for environmentally responsible mining practices is viewed as "greenwashing" by Mustari Siumbing.

• Fatwa Interpretation: The fatwa permits mining for public interest, but Siumbing argues that environmental damage is inevitable, leading to ecosystem collapse.
• Hegemony of Religious Institutions: Siumbing suggests religious institutions are using positive narratives to mask the destructive reality of mining.

Government Policy Shift: In May 2024, President Joko Widodo signed a revision allowing religious organizations to receive mining concessions. Indonesia's two largest Muslim organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, welcomed this, with Nahdlatul Ulama announcing an investment in a 26,000-hectare coal concession.

Henning Palan, deputy chair of Muhammadiyah's environmental council, faces a dilemma as her organization invests in the coal industry while advocating for green Islam. She acknowledges that mining programs exist within Muhammadiyah universities and that other mining concessions (nickel, gold, oil) might be offered.

Quote: "Is this greenwashing? I think to a certain extent, yes. Although the mining concession has been accepted, it shouldn't stop us from spreading our message of green Islam." - Henning Palan

Biodiversity Loss and Deforestation

Indonesia's vast nickel reserves (over 40% of global total) lead to deforestation and habitat destruction.

• Proboscis Monkeys: Balik Papan Bay in East Kalimantan is a stronghold for proboscus monkeys, with about 3,900 individuals. Deforestation has driven most of them out of their natural habitat, threatening their survival.
• Government Plans: In 2024, the government announced plans to clear 20 million hectares of forest for palm oil plantations, with the justification that "palm trees are trees too," ignoring the impact of monocultures on biodiversity.

Quote: "Each person, one single person needs at least three trees to get enough oxygen. Life on Earth needs oxygen and water. Without them, the earth dies." - Unknown speaker

The biggest obstacle to change is adults failing to be good examples for children.

Hope in Youth and Inter-faith Collaboration

In the face of government inaction and the reluctance of religious institutions to challenge polluting industries, hope lies in empowering the youth and fostering collective action.

• Inter-faith Dialogue: Gus Arc convenes religious leaders from Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, and animist faiths to discuss environmental commitments.
• Shared Prayer: After meetings, leaders ascend the volcano to share a prayer for the Earth.
• Gus Arc's Vision: Gus Arc embodies a peaceful resistance, representing those who believe it's not too late to act. He emphasizes unity and a shared purpose beyond financial gain.

Quote: "We're not just like a family. We are a real family. Some are farmers, some are breeders. There's even a former thief. Seriously, there are also business people and well, people who are a bit hard to define." - Gus Arc, describing his community.

Conclusion

The video concludes by suggesting that for Indonesia's Green Islam to have a genuine impact, it must evolve from the margins to become a significant societal force capable of influencing government policy. The efforts of individuals like Fared Song and Gus Arc, along with the growing awareness within religious institutions, represent a crucial step, but the challenge of balancing economic interests with environmental preservation remains significant. The ultimate success hinges on translating these initiatives into tangible policy changes and widespread societal adoption.