WCC News: Webinar will provide new insights on climate-responsible banking

A webinar entitled “Climate-Responsible Banking: A Moral Imperative towards Children“ on 3 July will increase awareness of how investments into new fossil fuel expansion imperil the wellbeing of children, youth, and future generations, to advance actions of faith-based actors and hold accountable those investing in fossil fuels. Participants in the Fridays for Future march in Glasgow, UK, 5 November 2021, during COP26. Fridays for Future is a worldwide movement born when Greta Thunberg started standing outside the Swedish parliament with a sign that said “school strike for climate” in August 2018. Other activists followed and it is now a worldwide movement with children all over the planet taking part. Many young people and families joined the demonstration with signs. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 21 June 2024 Organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC), UN Environment Programme, and Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities, the webinar will provide an update on the 9 May 2022 statement on climate-responsible finance and commitments made on the five calls to action. The event will ensure youth participation and highlight the consequences of fossil fuel financing on young people’s mental health, with a focus on ways to address root causes. Besides introducing the climate-responsible financial choices and sharing insights on their changing legal landscape, the event will inspire participants through testimonials by faith leaders. Illustrating how climate-responsible banking can help to tackle root causes of desertification, the event aims to serve as a milestone towards the UN Summit of the Future. The event will be facilitated by Dia Mirza, UN Environmental Programme, Goodwill Ambassador. Speakers will include:  Andrew David Raine, Deputy Director of the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) Law Division Ellyanne Wanjiku-Chlystun (13 years), Africa's Youngest Climate Finance & Health Champion Dr. Iyad Abumoghli, Founder and Director of the Faith for Earth Coalition of UNEP Rosie Venner, Just Money Movement  Dr. Anne Olhoff, Chief Climate Advisor, UNEP Copenhagen Climate Center Foday Bangura (19 years), co-author of the Children's Declaration to the New Global Financing Summit Eric Usher, Head of UNEP Finance Initiative Megan Clay, Client Earth François de Cambiaire, attorney specialised in responsible banking   When: Wednesday 3 July 2024, 2:00 – 3:30 pm CET Where: online, please register here  Statement "Climate-Responsible Finance - a Moral Imperative towards Children" (9 May 2022) 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