The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, emphasizes that climate change poses an existential threat to humanity, with its adverse effects increasingly impacting communities worldwide. The council highlighted that recurring natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes affect millions of lives, displacing thousands and causing severe damage. Children, youth, and vulnerable groups are particularly affected by these environmental crises, facing disruptions in education, health deterioration, nutritional challenges, and complex social and economic difficulties, all of which demand collective efforts to address.

In a statement on the International Day for Disaster Reduction, observed annually on October 13th, the Muslim Council of Elders reaffirmed that Islam places a strong moral and religious responsibility on humanity to care for natural resources and live in harmony with the environment. Islam teaches the obligation to preserve the earth’s resources for future generations, urging the protection of the planet and its resources while prohibiting harm and destruction. The council called on governments, international climate organizations, and civil society to intensify global efforts to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, which cause immense human, economic, and social losses worldwide. This can be achieved through comprehensive strategies aimed at reducing human and material losses, improving early warning systems, enhancing technological capabilities, and sharing knowledge and expertise between nations to minimize the impacts of natural disasters.

The Muslim Council of Elders actively engages in raising awareness about environmental issues and climate change, as well as promoting the role of religious leaders in addressing climate challenges. The council organized the Global Summit of Faith Leaders for Climate, attended by representatives of 18 different religions, sects, and denominations from across the globe, along with scientists, academics, environmental experts, and civil society representatives, including youth, women, and indigenous peoples. The summit culminated in the launch of the "Call of Conscience: Abu Dhabi Joint Climate Statement," co-signed by 30 religious leaders worldwide, which urged global policymakers to implement concrete and necessary solutions to combat climate change. Furthermore, the council organized the Faith Pavilion at COP28, the first of its kind in the history of the Conference of the Parties, which served as a global platform for participants from 54 countries, 9 religious denominations, and over 70 organizations and institutions worldwide to exchange perspectives and find effective solutions to address climate issues.