Media Advisory: Sustainable Environment: churches in action - a NCCI/WCC webinar

3 June 2020

Event details
What: World Environment Day Webinar on Sustainable Environment: Churches in action.

Promoted by the National Council of Churches in India and the World Council of Churches

When: Thursday, June 4, 2020, 11.00– 13.00 (CET)

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“The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; -Psalm 24:1

The theme for World Environment Day, 5 June 2020 is biodiversity — a call to action to combat the accelerating species loss and degradation of the natural world. One million plant and animal species risk extinction, largely due to human activities. According to the WWF, Humanity has wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles since 1970. Some recent analyses have revealed that humankind has destroyed 83% of all mammals and half of plants since the dawn of civilisation.The global economy is intricately tied to biodiversity. Services provided by biodiversity are worth an estimated US$ 125-140 trillion per year, more than one and a half times the size of global GDP. The food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink come from nature.

In a country like India, with world’s second highest population and an increased demand for economic growthcoupled with rapid urbanization trend, the process of biodiversity loss is on a fast track, resulting in increased frequency of extreme weather events, successive droughts, lack of drinking water, crop failures, etc.  This has severe impact on the poor and the agrarian communities, whose life and livelihood depends on nature and biodiversity.
 

So what can be done?

The WED this year has focused on “time for nature”.  The world has come to a standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time of lockdown measures, the world witnessed a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions around the world and the nature found its “breathing space”. In a way the nature reclaimed its space!  But for how long? How does a post COVID-19 world or the nature look like? All is not lost and its not too late. We can reverse the trends of biodiversity loss by reimagining our relationship with nature and acting now to increase ambition and accountability for its protection. But all stakeholders have to respond collectively.

Who are the stakeholders?  what changes needs to be done? As a faith community, what role churches can play? Let us explore together with the panel of speakers:

Dinesh Suna, Coordinator,  EWN, WCC
Manoj Kurian, Coordinator,  EAA, WCC
Athena Peralta, Program Executive, EEJ, WCC
Renemla Ozukum, CBCNEI /NCCI
Angelious Michael, JELC
Mathew Koshy, CSI

The webinar will be facilitated by Asir Ebenezer, General Secretary NCCI and Pradip Bansrior. Executive Secretary NCCI Dalit and Adivasi/Tribal Concerns

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