WCC news: WCC calls on COP28 to “rise above,” act collectively in addressing climate change

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee, meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, from 8-14 November, released a statement on COP28’s responsibility for climate justice.  A man brings an ox-drawn cart along the dry river bed of the Choluteca river in Honduras, carrying firewood. As the prolonged drought here, linked to climate change, continues, farmers resort to chopping down their trees to sell as firewood to make ends meet, further exacerbating the environmental crisis. Photo: Sean Hawkey/Life on Earth 13 November 2023 The 28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) will take place 30 November-12 December in the United Arab Emirates. “At this time of climate emergency, it is essential that COP28 courageously addresses the fossil fuel industry and their responsibility towards people and planet,” reads the statement. “COP28 is pivotal for the future of the living planet, our common home, and for our children and future generations.” The statement calls for rendering climate justice to more vulnerable and low income nations and communities. “This means ensuring new, additional, adequate and predictable funding for economic and non-economic losses and damages experienced mainly by more vulnerable and low income countries which is expected to reach $150-300 billion a year by 2030,” the statement reads. “Such funds must be made accessible to climate-impacted communities.” The WCC also calls for COP28 to rapidly deliver climate finance that gives climate-vulnerable nations and communities a chance to adapt to the consequences of climate change. “At a minimum, this COP must live up to the promise of providing 100 billion dollars per year for the Green Climate Fund,” reads the text. "Such finance must be needs-based, at the scale required, and in the form of grants rather than loans.” WCC executive committee statement on COP28's responsibility for climate justice WCC “source of hope in this world,” says WCC moderator (WCC news release, 08 November 2023) WCC general secretary to executive committee: “How can we be God’s healing and restoring presence?” (WCC news release, 08 November 2023) 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 general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. 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