Prof. İbrahim Özdemir Spoke at Kabarak University’s “Faith and Environment” Conference

Prof. İbrahim Özdemir, faculty member of the Department of Philosophy at Üsküdar University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Philosophy at Chicago’s American Islamic College, participated as a distinguished speaker in the first annual “Faith and Environment” conference organized by Kabarak University, based in Kenya.

The First Annual Faith and Environment Conference, organized by Kabarak University, was held online. This year’s conference theme was “Climate Reparations: Harnessing Indigenous Wisdom, Faith, and Philosophies for Justice.”

Özdemir emphasized the moral and spiritual dimensions of the climate crisis

In the session titled “The Essential Link Between Religious Values and Environmental Protection: An Ecumenical Dialogue,” Prof. Özdemir shared his insights as part of a panel that brought together international scholars, religious leaders, and environmental thinkers.

Drawing attention to the moral and spiritual aspects of the climate crisis, Prof. Özdemir emphasized that the Islamic concepts of “khalifah” (human stewardship and responsibility on Earth) and “mizan” (balance) form the ethical foundation for protecting creation.

He also noted that he had contributed to the preparation of the document “Al-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth,” explaining that the concept of “khalifah” was reinterpreted within the context of individual responsibility.

“Religions possess a vast treasure of wisdom that can guide humanity toward ecological justice”

Stressing that true environmental transformation cannot be achieved solely through technological or policy changes, but rather through a renewed awareness of humanity’s moral and spiritual responsibility toward the Earth, Özdemir stated: “Religions hold a vast treasure of wisdom that can guide humanity toward ecological justice. The moral imagination of our faiths must rise to a level capable of responding to the planetary crisis. We should define climate reparations not merely as an economic compensation but as a moral and spiritual restoration, that is, a covenant to heal the Earth.”

Faith and Environment Initiative: A global dialogue platform

The Faith and Environment Initiative, established within Kabarak University in 2022, has become a global dialogue platform for scholars working at the intersection of religion, ecology, and justice.

In recent years, the initiative has organized numerous online seminars exploring how indigenous knowledge systems and faith-based perspectives can contribute to solving environmental challenges.

About Kabarak University

Founded in 2002 in Kenya, Kabarak University is a higher education institution rooted in Christian ethics, recognized for its commitment not only to academic excellence but also to moral values and social responsibility.

The university holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and is considered one of Africa’s leading institutions in the fields of research, publishing, and social justice.