The report calls for a new policy consensus based on equity, economic security for all, and solidarity. It emphasizes the need for structural transformations in policy, institutions, norms, and mind-sets, and a fundamental reorientation of policymaking through a social lens. A new consensus must prioritize strong social policies, investments in public institutions, and a people-centred approach to development, moving beyond the current over-reliance on markets.
Sustainable development in an Islamic economy is unattainable without the integration of ethics. To stay relevant, it is essential to broaden the interpretation of Shariah compliance beyond mere legal requirements, incorporating maqasid and qawaid to foster positive social and environmental outcomes. Islamic economics and finance are designed to benefit all humanity, not just Muslims, and achieving “Rahmatil alamin” (mercy to all) requires ethics to be deeply embedded in the economy. However, this can only be realized by transforming the mind-set of economic agents from “homo Islamic-legalus” to “homo Islamic-ethicus,” who prioritize ethical decision-making.
The banks’ ESG commitment can be in the form of adopting ESG framework in their banking operation and business strategy, incorporating ESG in credit assessment, and integrating ESG commitment in their banking products. In the case of Islamic banks, incorporating the environmental pillar can be adopted in the form of promoting green financing and integrating environmental risks in the banking operation. At the policy level, the financial authority is required to have an ESG framework to be implemented in the banking industry.
When joining the Alliance, each member bank voluntarily commits to independently setting, disclosing, and reporting on their progress towards science-based de-carbonization targets, as data and methodologies allow. These individual targets aim to align portfolios to pathways that limit global warming to 1.5°C above the pre-industrial global average temperature, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The Guidelines for Climate Target Setting for Banks outline eight key sectors: power generation, oil and gas, coal, transport, iron and steel, cement, commercial and residential real estate, and agriculture.
During the opening ceremony, H.E Mr. Yousef Hassan Khalawi, Secretary General, AlBaraka Forum for Islamic Economy highlighted that the world has now spent more than a full century talking about sustainability. The Islamic world has 22 countries classified as least developed countries. We should focus on our nations and focus on our beliefs, as today we are trying to introduce Sukuk as one of our major initiatives created by Muslim economists, scientists, and experts.
The author urges that deep and rapid decarbonization must become a global priority because climate tipping points will likely be reached much sooner than previously expected as greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. To safeguard humanity and its societal systems, it is not only important to consider the time it takes to achieve decarbonization, but to ensure that we avoid reaching the climate tipping points.
In South Asia, serious hunger reflects rising undernourishment and persistently high child under nutrition, driven by poor diet quality, economic challenges, and the increasing impact of natural disasters. The goal of Zero Hunger by 2030 now appears unreachable, and if progress remains at the pace observed since the 2016 global GHI score, the world will not reach even low hunger until 2160 more than 130 years from now.
The authors caution that democratic politics may or may not help fix dynamic social problems. The authors argue that even in their own optimistic model of politics—where parties maximize average utility of those currently alive— equilibrium policies may not put society on the right path, and the speed of the green transition may be too slow. Climate change and environmental degradation is a slow and cumulative process. To protect environment, the efforts also need to be cumulative and consistent. A self-centric secular worldview encourages the self-centric use of private property resources. However, even small things done collectively and consistently can have a larger effect.
The author urges responsible attitude towards ―limits to growth‖. The author argues for the equalization of endowments rather than expansion of policies that redistribute current income. Kate Raworth then lists seven ways of thinking about the economy that will help us manage common needs such as water, food, income – the things in the hole of the doughnut – so that humanity lands in the sweet spot rather than drifting past the outer ring – the ecological ceiling — where phenomena like ozone layer depletion thrives.
The threat of air pollution is not new, but it is changing. Air pollution has contributed to death and disease and has hurt economic prospects and community resilience for decades. During that time, policies and technologies have drastically improved air quality in some areas, saving lives, and proving that pollution is not an inevitable by-product of economic development.
Air pollution is a complex mixture of particles and gases with sources and composition varying over space and time. While hundreds of chemical compounds can be measured in the air, governments typically measure only a small subset as indicators of the different types of air pollution and major sources contributing to that pollution.
Islamic Economics Project 