The Devil’s Climate: How Moral Apathy and Institutional Power Fuel the Ecological Crisis
BUKITTINGGI — The global ecological crisis and the relentless barrage of natural disasters can no longer be dismissed as mere whims of Mother Nature. They are, at their core, man-made catastrophes.
In a strategic bid to elevate the discourse of ecotheology onto the global stage, the International Office of UIN Bukittinggi has forged a powerful alliance with the Center for Ecotheological Studies at the university's Faculty of Ushuluddin, Adab, and Dakwah (FUAD). This collaborative leap aims to fortify international academic networks while hammering out faith-based, strategic responses to the looming threat of climate change.
Dr. Irwandi, Head of the International Office at UIN Bukittinggi, asserts that the global environmental crisis is the grim accumulation of human moral neglect, fragile mitigation frameworks, and a systemic failure in sustainable environmental governance.
This critical perspective took center stage in early June during an international public lecture provocatively titled “High and Dry: The Devil May Care.” The event was hosted by the Center for Ecotheological Studies at UIN Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi.
The keynote speaker was Koen Broersma, a seasoned urban water management expert and senior technical consultant from the Netherlands. Broersma’s presence at the university was part of the prestigious 2026 Annual Meeting of the Netherlands-Indonesia Consortium for Muslim-Christian Relations (NICMCR).
This high-profile synergy received unyielding backing from the Rector of UIN Bukittinggi, Professor Silfia Hanani, who views the collaboration as a tangible manifestation of the university’s commitment to addressing global crises through a multidisciplinary academic lens.
"The collaboration between the International Office and the Center for Ecotheological Studies underscores UIN Bukittinggi’s refusal to remain an ivory tower," Professor Hanani stated. "The environmental crisis is a collective humanitarian responsibility. By engaging international experts, we are building a scholarly bridge to ground inclusive Islamic values that champion ecological preservation."
The Dual Face of Faith
In his address, Broersma drew a sharp, vital line between a "natural hazard" and a "natural disaster." Hazards—such as earthquakes, floods, or droughts—are inevitable planetary cycles. However, they mutate into lethal humanitarian disasters only when they collide with societal vulnerability, ruthless resource exploitation, and weak mitigation policies.
"Many disasters are not simply authored by nature," Broersma argued. "They are actively triggered by political-economic decisions and human agency."
Broersma also turned the spotlight on the pivotal role of theology in confronting this global emergency. Religion, he posited, wears a "dual face" regarding the natural world.
On one hand, distorted religious interpretations have often birthed a radical anthropocentrism—a worldview that places humanity at the absolute center of the universe, effectively licensing the wholesale exploitation of nature.
On the other hand, religion harbors an unshakeable ethical foundation for ecological restoration. The Islamic tradition, for instance, offers the profound concepts of amanah (trust/stewardship), mizan (cosmic balance), and socio-ecological justice, all of which command humanity to act as guardians of the Earth.
Crucially, Broersma bridged the spiritual concept of ghaflah (moral apathy or heedlessness) with institutional power. When indifference toward nature is institutionalized by political and economic elites, the result is massive, structural ecological ruin.
The phrase “The Devil May Care” serves as a scathing metaphor for the rampant culture of recklessness embedded in modern development policies. For Broersma, today’s existential hurdle is not a scarcity of climate science or data—it is the crippling absence of the moral will to act.
Bridges of Ethics and Spirit
Dr. Zulfan Taufik, Director of the Center for Ecotheological Studies at FUAD UIN Bukittinggi, emphasized that international expertise is vital to enriching the perspectives of local academics. Through this partnership, his center is committed to thrusting the ecotheological discourse onto the global vanguard.
“Environmental degradation cannot be solved solely through technical and scientific fixes; it demands an ethical and spiritual awakening," Taufik remarked.
"This dialogue helps us contextually translate sacred texts to heal a suffering planet.”
By fostering institutional collaboration and sparking interactive debates among faculty and students alike, UIN Bukittinggi is actively striving to heal the rift between science and faith.
The ultimate hope is that this intellectual crusade will catalyze public policies and human behaviors that are fairer, wiser, and profoundly accountable to the survival of the Earth.
Source: Dr. Irwandi, SS., M.Pd / Head of International Office of UIN Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi International Office
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