WCC NEWS: WCC shares climate initiatives for and with children and youth at Curious2022 - Future Insight™ conference

Programme executive for Child Rights Frederique Seidel represented the World Council of Churches (WCC) as a keynote speaker in the session announcing the 2022 Keeling Curve Prize Winners. Photo: Julian Huke Photography 13 July 2022 "The WCC has mobilised faith communities and partners around climate solutions for many decades at global, regional and local levels»,” said Seidel at the event. Seidel explained that thanks to the Keeling Curve Prize received in 2019, WCC helped to support churches in 120 countries to accelerate behaviour change for and with children and young people. The activities are anchored in success stories of teenagers who, through their Sunday schools and summer camp initiatives, managed to influence policies and legislations for a reduction of CO2 emissions.  "During the implementation of the project, some teenagers expressed dismay over banks and pension funds continuing to finance fossil fuels which accelerate global warming. However, the flexibility of the prize quickly led us to react. In addition to capacity building for child and youth initiative, we started a parallel effort: Helping adults use the power they can have on their bank’s choices,” said Seidel. The Keeling Curve Prize enabled WCC to publish a research paper, "Climate-Responsible Finance: A Moral Imperative towards Children", showcasing champions among members and partners who led by example ask their banks to increase their ambitions to align with the resolutions of the Paris Agreement.  Organised by the science, technology and healthcare company Merck, The Curious2022 - Future Insight™ conference is a hybrid event from 12-14 July on-site in Darmstadt, Germany, and online. The event brings scientists, and entrepreneurs, including Nobel laureates, leaders of the Club of Rome and numerous other science and technology leaders, to present their work and explore the future of science and technology, solving the challenges of today and enabling the dreams of a better tomorrow. More information about The Curious2022 - Future Insight™ conference  WCC climate justice project wins Keeling Curve Prize  Resources on Churches’ Commitments to Children Commitment 3: Raise Churches’ voice for intergenerational justice, supporting initiatives for and with children and adolescents WCC, United Nations Environment Programme, Muslim Council of Elders, NY Board of Rabbis sign joint appeal for climate-responsible finance as a moral imperative towards children WCC's engagement for children  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 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 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