THE NEED FOR A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE WAQF DEVELOPMENT IN ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
Abstract
Malaysia faces challenges in balancing economic growth with environmental protection, and waqf holds strong potential for long-term, community-based climate action. However, the potential of waqf to contribute to environmental initiatives, ranging from green technologies and renewable energy to wildlife and marine conservation, sustainable agriculture, reforestation, and waste management, remains largely underexamined in the Malaysian context. Existing green waqf models from other countries, like Indonesia, are not directly applicable due to Malaysia’s unique regulatory, institutional, and socio-economic context. Moreover, there is a limited understanding of the awareness, readiness, and capacity of waqf institutions to engage in climate protection. This paper aims to highlight why Malaysia urgently needs innovative and inclusive financing mechanisms to address climate change and support its sustainability agenda. It reviews the existing literature and identifies significant research gaps that justify further exploration. In particular, the study points to the necessity of developing a strategic framework for sustainable waqf development as a means of strengthening national efforts in responding to the climate crisis.
References
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Schreier, M. (2012). Qualitative content analysis in practice. SAGE Publications.
Securities Commission (2023) Welcome Remarks at the WAQF and Islamic Capital Market Conference, 20 July 2023 https://www.sc.com.my/resources/speeches/welcome-remarks-at-the-waqf-and-islamic-capital-market-conference.
SESRIC (2020a) Agriculture and food security in OIC member countries, The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries, available at: https://www.sesric.org/publications-detail.php?id=515
Sukarni & Mansyuroh (2022) Forest Waqf: An Alternative Solution for Protecting Environment in Kalimantan, Islamica: Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 17(1), 46–67
United Nations (UN) (2017) Environmental tax reform in Asia and the Pacific. In United Nations ESCAP. https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/S2_Environmental-Tax-Reform.pdf
Wildana, M.D.A. & Manzilati, A. (2021) Waqf and Waste: An Unexplored Potentials, Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research, 206, 14–21
World Bank Group, INCEIF & ISRA. (2019). Maximizing social impact through waqf solutions. World Bank Group.
Zabri, M. Z. M. (2024). Empowering green waqf for an effective climate-resilient Malaysia. In A. H. Mohamad & R. Khurshid (Eds.), Islamic green finance: Sustainable development and environmental stewardship (pp. 290–304). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032672946-22
Al-Daihani, M., Dirie, K.A., Alam, M.M. & Abdullah, A.S.C. (2024) An Islamic Crowdfunding Model for The Agricultural Sector: A Proposal Based on Salam and Muzāraʿah-Waqf Scheme, ISRA International Journal of Islamic Finance, 16(1), 4-23
Ali Azizan, N., Muhamat, A. A., Syed Alwi, S. F., Ali, H., & Abdullah, A. Q. C. (2022). Revitalising waqf (endowment) lands for agribusiness: Potentials of the anchor company models. Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, 12(3), 345–370.
Ali, K.M. & Kassim, S. (2021) Development of Waqf forest in Indonesia: The SWOT- ANP analysis of Bogor Waqf Forest program by Bogor Waqf Forest Foundation, Journal of Tropical Forest Management. Jurnal Manajemen Hutan Tropika. 27(2), 89–99.
Azizah, M., and Hariyanto, H. (2017) Implementasi Etika Bisnis Islam Terhadap Konsep Green Economics. Supremasi Hukum: Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Hukum, 10(2)
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) (2021) Climate Change and Principle-based Taxonomy. https://www.bnm.gov.my/documents/20124/938039/Climate+Change+and+Principle-based+Taxonomy.pdf
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) (2024a) Preparing Our Financial Sector for Risks from Climate Change. https://www.bnm.gov.my/climatechange
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) (2024b) Joint Statement by BNM and Securities Commission Malaysia from the 13th Joint Committee on Climate Change (JC3) Meeting. https://www.bnm.gov.my/-/jc3-mtg13
Beik, I.S., Listiana, L., Islamiyah, N., Ibrahim, I., Indrawan, I.W., Iqbal, M., Hardiana, M.D., Aprilia, A., Buana, G.K., Nathalia, D., Kirari, J.K. & Tian, X. (2022) Green Waqf Framework, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Badan Wakaf Indonesia (BWI).
Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40.
Daud, M.Z., Hanafi, H. & Abu @ Hussin, M.F. (2022) Literature on the Current Development of Waqf Practices in Malaysia, Journal Of Shariah Law Research,7(2), 223–240
Environmental Performance Index. (2020) Environmental Performance Index 2020. In Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118445112.stat03789.pub2
Hasan, N.F. & Syahruddin (2022) Enhancing Green Waqf for Carbonization Technology: Opportunities For Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) In Indonesia, el Barka: Journal of Islamic Economic and Business, 5(2), 235–251
Ishak, A. H., Kamaruzaman, K. A., & Ismail, C. Z. (2023). Reflecting sustainability in waqf land development projects. Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, 29(4), 1–11. World Bank. (2020). Maximizing social impact through waqf solutions. Washington, DC: World Bank Group. https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/930461562218730622
Iskandar, A. (2023) The Role of Islamic Philanthropy in Green Economy Development: Case In Indonesia, International Journal of Islamic Economics and Finance Research, 6(2), 40–55
Iskandar, A. & Khaerul, A. (2019) Green Economy Indonesia Dalam Perspektif Maqashid Syari’ah Al-Mashrafiyah. Jurnal Ekonomi, Keuangan, dan Perbankan Syariah, 3(83)
Muslimin, J.M., Lubis, S., Rifa, M.N. & Sukardi (2024) Green Economy in Islam: A Policy Study on Carbon Economic Value from the Perspective of Sharia Economic Law, ICIIS and APCoMS 2024, June 17-18, Banjarmasin, Indonesia
Nabi, A. A., Shahid, Z. A., Mubashir, K. A., Ali, A., Iqbal, A., & Zaman, K. (2020) Relationship between population growth, price level, poverty incidence, and carbon emissions in a panel of 98 countries. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 31778–31792.
Ningsih, S.R. & Irfany, M.I. (2022) Waqf on Environmental Issue: A Systematic Review, International Journal of Waqf, 2(1), 1–14
Qurrata, V.A., Shafiai, M.H.M., Alma’amun, S., Wahid, H., Ismail, A.G. & Purwanti, P. (2024) Blue Waqf Framework for Blue Forest Sustainability: A Conceptual Framework, The 6th International Research Conference Economics and Business, KnE Social Sciences, 398–40
Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2020) CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Our World in Data. Our Worldwide in Data.
Rusydiana, A.S., Sukmana, R., Laila, N & Bayram, K. (2023) Modeling Integrated Waqf-Sukuk for Climate Action (SDG13), Business and Sustainability, 2(2), 1–10
Schreier, M. (2012). Qualitative content analysis in practice. SAGE Publications.
Securities Commission (2023) Welcome Remarks at the WAQF and Islamic Capital Market Conference, 20 July 2023 https://www.sc.com.my/resources/speeches/welcome-remarks-at-the-waqf-and-islamic-capital-market-conference.
SESRIC (2020a) Agriculture and food security in OIC member countries, The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries, available at: https://www.sesric.org/publications-detail.php?id=515
Sukarni & Mansyuroh (2022) Forest Waqf: An Alternative Solution for Protecting Environment in Kalimantan, Islamica: Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 17(1), 46–67
United Nations (UN) (2017) Environmental tax reform in Asia and the Pacific. In United Nations ESCAP. https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/S2_Environmental-Tax-Reform.pdf
Wildana, M.D.A. & Manzilati, A. (2021) Waqf and Waste: An Unexplored Potentials, Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research, 206, 14–21
World Bank Group, INCEIF & ISRA. (2019). Maximizing social impact through waqf solutions. World Bank Group.
Zabri, M. Z. M. (2024). Empowering green waqf for an effective climate-resilient Malaysia. In A. H. Mohamad & R. Khurshid (Eds.), Islamic green finance: Sustainable development and environmental stewardship (pp. 290–304). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032672946-22
Published
2025-10-16
How to Cite
MUHAMMAD, Izlawanie; SULAIMAN, Syahnaz; MOHD ANIM, Nur Aqilah Hazirah.
THE NEED FOR A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE WAQF DEVELOPMENT IN ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
Proceedings of the International Conference of Islamic Economics and Business (ICONIES), [S.l.], v. 11, n. 1, p. 1279-1284, oct. 2025.
ISSN 2541-3333.
Available at: <https://conferences.uin-malang.ac.id/index.php/iconies/article/view/3444>. Date accessed: 11 june 2026.
Section
Articles
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