Waqf Road To Net Zero

This November there will be a world high-level convention on climate change, namely the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). One that will be carried out by a number of parties is an initiative called Net Zero.

Net Zero is an effort to offset emissions that are still out with a commensurate absorption, so that the net emission result is 0%. With this effort, it is hoped that global temperatures will not rise higher than 1.5 C compared to pre-industrial temperatures.

Regardless of whether the Net Zero initiative is approved or not, we really need to make improvements on this earth, because this is a religious order — not because of pressure or the interests of any party.

We in Indonesia are most likely to lead in this Net Zero movement or whatever name or ‘language of the people’ is chosen for this era. The most effective, cheapest and best impact for nature is planting trees — the wisdom of what the Prophet PBUH ordered us to do until the end of time.

In my calculations, the average population of Indonesia currently emits around 2.2 tons of CO2 equivalent per capita per year. If each of us plant only 7 tamanu trees, then our emissions will be fully absorbed.

But the condition is that it must be on land that was originally arid — there are no other plants, and we have 14 million hectares of land like this which we call critical and very critical land. If we can only cultivate this in 10 years, 2/3 of our emissions have been absorbed, it’s just a matter of finding 1/3rd efforts.

Because not all of us can plant it, then those who can afford to plant more, do they willing to plant more? That is the concept of waqf in Islam, including this tree waqf. Planting this tree was promised directly by the Prophet PBUH— will be rewarded until the Day of Resurrection, who doesn’t want to?