Religious Scholars Attend Climate Change Workshop in Kabul

Religious scholars gathered in Kabul for a workshop focused on climate change and environmental conservation, co-hosted by the National Environmental Protection Agency and the Raha Institute. The event aimed to equip religious leaders with information on ecological challenges and explore ways to integrate environmental stewardship into community outreach.

Mawlawi Mutiullah Khalis, Director General of the National Environmental Protection Agency, outlined the primary environmental threats facing the country. He identified prolonged droughts, seasonal flooding, water scarcity, deteriorating air quality, and widespread land degradation as critical issues requiring immediate attention. Khalis emphasized that religious leaders hold significant influence and urged them to utilize mosque platforms to advocate for sustainable practices. He specifically called on scholars to promote water conservation, forest preservation, and nationwide tree-planting initiatives during Friday sermons and community gatherings.

Engineer Ezzatullah Sediqi, Deputy of the Raha Institute, highlighted the potential of integrating faith-based messaging with ecological education. He noted that established religious teachings provide a strong foundation for raising public awareness about the long-term consequences of climate change. By framing environmental protection within familiar moral and spiritual contexts, organizers hope to encourage broader community participation in conservation efforts.

The workshop provided a forum for dialogue between environmental experts and religious figures, focusing on practical strategies to mitigate ecological damage. Participants discussed methods to translate scientific data into accessible guidance for local populations, with the goal of fostering a culture of environmental responsibility across the country.