WCC NEWS: WCC offers intervention at Climate Responsible Finance event

World Council of Churches programme executive for Child Rights Frederique Seidel offered an intervention at a Climate Response Finance event organized by Greenfaith on 24 February. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 24 February 2022 Seidel gave some examples of how the climate emergency is affecting young people—how they want to contribute to change but don’t have the power to influence the decisions of bank CEOs.  “But the investment choices of our banks can efficiently be influenced by us – adults, organisations, asset owners, religious communities—anyone who has a bank account,” said Seidel.  In 2020, the WCC published the research paper “Cooler Earth—Higher Benefits: Actions by those who care about children, climate and finance.” In addition, the WCC Churches’ Commitments to Children programme, in partnership with UNICEF, encourages all those who care about children to check if their bank is featured in the report “Banking on Climate Chaos,” published by the Rainforest Alliance. “We adults must engage with the CEOs of these banks and refuse to invest our money in sectors which are known to accelerate global warming,” said Seidel. “Many people in the decision-making seats are not yet aware how much their assets are contributing to global warming.” Many young people open their first bank account without checking if the bank they chose contributes to a sustainable future, Seidel noted. "This is why we started assembling capacity-building resources for all on climate-responsible banking,” she said.    WCC's Engagement for Children Churches Commitment to Children action plan New WCC toolkit empowers churches to work with children and youth for climate justice WCC climate justice project wins Keeling Curve Prize See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland