Bulaksumur Round Table Forum: Ziswaf become option to finance climate action

MOSAIC-INDONESIA.COM, YOGYAKARTA -- Bulaksumur Roundtable Forum (BRF), an academic discussion forum initiated by the Department of Politics and Government of Fisipol UGM, held a special edition of “The Clinic”, at Fisipol UGM Campus, Yogyakarta, Thursday (19/6/2025). 

This forum focusses on utilizing zakat, infaq, sedekah and waqf (Ziswaf) as an alternative to participatory climate funding schemes in Indonesia. This event is a collaboration between BRF with Mosaic and Pares, to dedicate sustainability and social justice. This cooperation is underpinned by a shared awareness that energy transition and sustainable development require structurally strong funding support, but remain socially inclusive.

The forum brings together academics, religious figures, representatives of sharia financial institutions, civil society organizations, regulators, and policymakers. The goal is to build a richer understanding of Ziswaf's potential in dealing with the challenges of the climate crisis that are increasingly real before our eyes.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Department of Politics and Government of FISIPOL UGM, Dr Abdul Gaffar Karim, expressed his appreciation to the speakers who had taken the time to attend.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our speakers are figures in key institutions that are very relevant to our topic today, which is to discuss Islamic philanthropy, how human funds can be used to contribute to our big problem today, which is the climate crisis,” Gaffar said.

He stressed that the climate crisis was a real and urgent problem. “Because the real climate crisis is in plain sight, and we have to make the best of it. Without academic polemics and excessive labeling. The important thing is action,” he said.

Gaffar hopes the forum can be a starting point for stakeholders to sit down together, identify, and formulate concrete collaborative steps. “Hopefully our event today can contribute to strengthening the role of Muslims in helping to tackle the climate crisis,” he said.

MOSAIC invites you to collaborate

Muslim for Shared Actions on Climate Impact (MOSAIC) Chairman Nur Hasan Murtiaji expressed great hope for collaborative efforts in empowering people to push for climate action. He explained that MOSAIC actively runs various campaign programs, including “Ummah for the Universe” which can be accessed via Instagram social media, as well as the “Sedekah Energi” program that allows people to donate for solar panel installations in mosques through alms-based crowdfunding.

“Of course, this Bulaksumur Forum is part of our ambition to combine all the potentials associated with the green initiative movement, which is currently of course still minimal,” said Nur Hasan Murtiaji.

Hasan stressed the importance of empowering all stakeholders, hoping the event could formulate collaborative action based on participatory climate finance.

In particular, the Forum seeks to offer concrete solution schemes on how community or community initiatives can be concretely involved in addressing climate issues, one of which is through the use of community funds. The discussion is expected to be a first step in strengthening the integration of Islamic values into public funding policies and practices in Indonesia, for the realization of sustainable energy and environment.