WCC NEWS: Food, water, climate justice a moral imperative, shows COP28 side event

A COP28 side event on 10 December, entitled “Faith communities have a moral imperative to address Water-food-climate Justice,” reimagined a world in which climate action policies help create a habitable world for all. Panelists of the COP28 side event “Faith communities have a moral imperative to address Water-food-climate Justice”: Dinesh Suna, coordinator of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network and moderator of the discussion; Prof. Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; Jocabed Solano from the indigenous Gunadule nation, Panama; Archbishop Julio Murray, Anglican Episcopal Diocese of Panama. Photo:WCC 12 December 2023 Prof. Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, spoke of how mitigation leads to sustainability. “Sustainable management of the aquatic ecosystem needs to get its due priority,” he said. “Our mitigation and adaptation strategies must get integrated into food and water system reformations, within a hydrological framework.” Archbishop Julio Murray, diocesan bishop of the Anglican Episcopal Diocese of Panama, spoke about faith communities’ role in climate action.  Murray, newly appointed moderator of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, talked about reimagining hope, working for justice, and being the voice of the vulnerable community impacted by climate change. He highlighted various good practices of the Anglican communion’s climate action, including a divestment policy.  He also highlighted some climate action examples from the World Council of Churches, including the WCC’s fossil fuel divestment policy and commitment as a Blue Community. Jocabed Solano, from the Gunadule nation, an Indigenous community in Panama, emphasized that “seed banks” were an Indigenous practice much before they became a practice in the food systems of the United Nations. She challenged participants: “Do not forget where you come from – that is nature!” Nicholas Pande, environmental policy lead at the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations, highlighted other good practices of the Anglican communion to combat climate change.   In Kenya, the Anglican communion has helped farmers facing successive seasons of crop failure from four seasons of drought. The communion also also promotes climate information and empowers farmers with timely weather forecasting to make their agriculture climate resilient. WCC special page on COP28   At COP28 side event, 12-year-old Faith Sebwa urges including children with disabilities in climate discussions (WCC news release, 12 December 2023)   Global Climate Action spotlight: Faith actors' crucial role echoes at COP28 (WCC news release, 3 December 2023)   WCC general secretary: “At COP 28 we have to speak up for justice” (WCC news release 3 December 2023)   Interfaith talanoa dialogue brings “ethical, moral, and spiritual voice” to COP28 (WCC news release, 30 November 2023)   As COP28 begins, faith communities stand ready to push for climate justice (WCC news release, 30 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