Two days international e-conference on Ecolinguistics and Ecological Narratives was concluded at the Department of English Linguistics and Literature, Riphah International University, Islamabad on 10th March 2022. At the conference, twenty-eight international speakers from sixteen countries presented their research on much-needed topics of ecology. More than twenty-five institutes were engaged in the conference. Famous researchers in Ecolinguistics, such as Dr. George M Jacobs, Dr. HildoHonóriodo Couto, Dr. Arran Stibbe, Dr. Peter Makwanya, and Dr. MengHuat Chau, were an integral part of the conference.
Dr. George M Jacobs emphasized how language can play a part in helping the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also discussed the role of native languages in this process. He argued that the teachers need to step out of the confines of traditional teaching methods to achieve the SDGs. Dr.HildoHonóriodo Couto enlightened the audience with Ecosystemic Discourse analysis (EDA). He discussed how EDA is different from traditional methods of analysis and how it can help consolidate eco-solidarity.
Dr. Arran Stibbe’s talk explored how Ecolinguistics can offer the study of ethical leadership.Dr. Peter Makwanya explicated about the need for humans to understand the role of the environment in their lives. Dr.MengHuat Chau discussed the crucial role of Ecolinguistics in today’s world.He emphasized the power of language as a tool to create an ecologically inclusive, respectful, and compassionate world for all.
The conference participants emphasized that such scholarly gatherings would be organized in the future to create a sustained impact. The recent talk around ecology is already an integral part of our belief system as Muslims. Dr. Anis Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, Riphah International University, Islamabad and Chairman, National Rahmatul-Lil- AalameenAuthority expressed,“Islam wants conservation ofresources and energy, living with austerity, andavoiding extravagance”. The Qur’an stronglycondemns Israf and the waste of resources. TheProphet s.w.a.s. instructs that a believer should notwash his face and hands more than three times even when making ablution on a riverbank.It is time that youth become aware of valuableinstructions on preserving the ecological balance inthe Qur’an and Sunnah.
The International Panel for Climate Change published 3675-page report recently and declared that Pakistan is ten times more vulnerable to environmental catastrophes than the rest of the world. There is speculation of Pakistan climate refugees. Eventually, environmental woes are going to be our security threat in many ways. It is crucial to channelize all possible means to address the threat of global warming.
The Higher Education Commission, Pakistan, and the Ministry of Climate Change might want to collaborate with the Department of English Linguistics and Literature, Riphah International University, Islamabad, to promote the understanding of ecology in different languages to create a change in the meaning-making processes. Moreover, the department will continue a series of conferences on ecolinguistics and ecological narratives to create a long-term impact. It was decided that scholars will be provided a venue in the form of the Journal of Ecolinguistics and Ecological Narratives to regularly publish and exchange their thoughts to save the natural environment.
