 |
| Illustration by Ai |
As climate change intensifies and governments debate the best economic strategies for environmental protection, new research suggests that conventional measures of success—such as economic growth or carbon efficiency—may overlook broader questions of justice. A study published in 2026 by Agustin Windianingsih, Prof. Dr. Euis Amalia, Prof. Dr. Desmadi Saharuddin, and Mulki Siregar from the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta argues that the Islamic ethical framework of Maqasid al-Sharia provides a more comprehensive way to evaluate neoliberal and socialist economic policies in addressing climate change. Their findings indicate that this perspective remains largely absent from international climate policy research despite its potential to strengthen environmental and intergenerational justice.
The research, published in the Jurnal Multidisiplin Madani (MUDIMA), highlights a surprising gap in global scientific literature. Although climate justice has become a major topic worldwide, very few studies have systematically examined whether dominant economic systems truly protect human well-being, future generations, and the natural environment through an ethical framework such as Maqasid al-Sharia.
Why This Research Matters
Climate change has become one of the defining challenges of the twenty-first century. Governments continue searching for policies capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining economic development. Two economic approaches frequently dominate these discussions.
The first is neoliberalism, which emphasizes market competition, privatization, and economic growth. The second is socialism, which relies more heavily on government planning and public ownership to guide development.
Both systems have been praised and criticized. Market-oriented policies can encourage innovation but may also increase inequality and environmental degradation. State-centered approaches can improve resource distribution but often face efficiency and governance challenges.
The researchers argue that these debates often overlook an essential question: Do economic policies genuinely protect people, society, and nature in the long term?
Maqasid al-Sharia offers an alternative perspective by focusing on safeguarding five fundamental objectives—life, intellect, religion, lineage, and property—while also recognizing environmental preservation as an essential component of sustainable development.
A Global Review of Climate and Economic Research
Rather than conducting fieldwork, the research examined the global scientific landscape itself.
The team combined two complementary approaches:
- Bibliometric literature mapping to analyze publication trends, research networks, institutional collaborations, and keyword relationships across international scientific databases.
- PICOS systematic review, a rigorous framework used to identify studies that met strict criteria regarding population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and research design.
Researchers initially identified 690 publications from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. After applying the detailed screening process, only one empirical study fulfilled every requirement for directly comparing economic models through a Maqasid-based climate justice framework.
According to the authors, this result is one of the study's most significant findings because it demonstrates how little empirical evidence currently exists in this field.
Key Findings
The study reveals several important patterns shaping international research on climate justice and economic systems.
Only one empirical study met all scientific criteria.
Out of 690 publications reviewed, a single qualitative study directly evaluated climate policy using Maqasid al-Sharia as the primary ethical framework. This indicates an extremely limited evidence base for policymakers seeking ethical assessments beyond conventional economic indicators.
Climate research remains divided into separate academic communities.
Bibliometric mapping showed two largely disconnected research clusters:
- One cluster focuses on climate change, environmental justice, neoliberalism, and eco-socialism, dominated primarily by Western institutions.
- The second focuses on Islamic economics, Maqasid al-Sharia, ethics, and Islamic finance, concentrated mainly in Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, and several Middle Eastern countries.
Very little interaction exists between these two research communities.
Qualitative studies dominate the field.
Approximately 82 percent of reviewed publications relied on qualitative or conceptual approaches. The researchers found no empirical mixed-methods studies integrating Maqasid principles with quantitative climate impact measurements.
Research is geographically concentrated.
Most Maqasid-related climate studies originated from Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia. Regions highly vulnerable to climate change—including Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Eastern Europe—remain significantly underrepresented.
Justice is usually measured too narrowly.
Many climate studies evaluate fairness mainly through economic distribution or procedural decision-making. The researchers argue that broader concepts—including ecological justice, emotional well-being, and responsibilities toward future generations—receive far less attention.
A New Framework for Evaluating Climate Justice
One of the study's major contributions is a proposed three-dimensional justice matrix that expands how policymakers and researchers assess climate policies.
The framework includes:
- Cognitive Justice, emphasizing accurate scientific understanding, environmental knowledge, and protection against misinformation.
- Affective Justice, recognizing emotional resilience, cultural identity, religious values, and community well-being affected by environmental change.
- Conative Justice, focusing on concrete institutional actions, wealth distribution, environmental governance, and protection of both present and future generations.
Together, these dimensions extend Maqasid al-Sharia beyond traditional legal discussions into a practical framework for evaluating climate policy.
Implications for Governments and Policymakers
The findings suggest that governments may benefit from moving beyond economic growth indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) when designing climate strategies.
Instead, policymakers could incorporate broader ethical indicators measuring long-term environmental protection, social equity, and intergenerational responsibility.
The researchers also recommend that future studies:
- develop mixed-methods research combining qualitative and quantitative evidence;
- create measurable indicators for Maqasid-based climate justice;
- compare identical climate policies across neoliberal, socialist, and hybrid economic systems;
- expand research into regions that currently receive limited scholarly attention.
Such work could strengthen international discussions about sustainable development while incorporating ethical perspectives that have traditionally remained outside mainstream climate economics.
Authors' Perspective
The authors conclude that current climate economics remains heavily centered on growth-based assumptions and Western policy frameworks. They argue that Maqasid al-Sharia provides a holistic ethical perspective capable of evaluating not only economic efficiency but also ecological sustainability, social justice, and responsibilities toward future generations.
As the researchers from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta explain through their analysis, climate policy should increasingly be evaluated by how effectively it protects human dignity, environmental integrity, and intergenerational equity rather than economic growth alone.
Author Profiles
Agustin Windianingsih is a doctoral researcher at the Graduate School, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, specializing in Islamic economics, climate justice, and sustainable development.
Prof. Dr. Euis Amalia is a professor at the Graduate School, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, whose expertise includes Islamic economics, economic development, and public policy.
Prof. Dr. Desmadi Saharuddin is a professor at the Graduate School, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, specializing in Islamic economics, public policy, and socio-economic development.
Mulki Siregar is a researcher affiliated with the Graduate School, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, with research interests in Islamic economics, environmental governance, and sustainable policy.
Source
Article Title: Justice Over Growth: A Maqasid-Based Reassessment of Neoliberal and Socialist Climate Policies
Journal: Jurnal Multidisiplin Madani (MUDIMA)
Publication Year: 2026
0 Komentar