"Today's biggest challenge is climate change. The contribution of religious (institutions) in solving this problem is increasingly relevant and must be enhanced globally," Dasuki remarked at the Conference on Religion and Climate Change initiated by the Hukama Muslimin Council (MHM) here on Wednesday.
The deputy minister highlighted that several concrete steps had been taken to reduce carbon emissions, including the efficient use of LED lights, sustainable gardens around places of worship, and the use of pro-environmental technologies, such as solar energy and rainwater collection.
Meanwhile, Dasuki said, the commitment of religious educational institutions, such as pesantren, or Islamic boarding schools, had come to surface. He noted that the pesantren ecosystem has begun to promote the importance of caring for the environment.
Similarly, religious organizations in Indonesia, such as Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, have agencies with autonomy and focus on addressing climate change issues.
"Religious institutions have great potential to contribute to safeguarding our environment. Thus, let us move forward together by upholding our religious values and combining them with concern for the environment," he remarked.
According to Dasuki, climate change must be responded to with collective and systematic action, wherein the effort to present religious values and local cultural wisdom in environmental preservation and sustainable development is highly relevant.
"Climate change has become an increasingly urgent global threat and tackling this issue requires collaboration across religions, cultures, and countries," he affirmed.
Earlier, MHM member M. Zainul Majdi stated that the holding of the Conference on Religion and Climate Change aimed to build mutual awareness about facing the environmental crisis.
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Translator: Asep F, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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