“God calls us to take good care of the divine gifts of land, water, and other resources,” said Bishop Julio Murray, an Anglican from Panama. Murray serves as the moderator of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network, and also as moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development. “The biblical concept of Jubilee calls for rest of the land – for the liberation of land from exploitation, extraction and drilling – to allow regeneration and renewal of our only planetary home. We know that the clock is ticking on climate change. We need to put a stop to fossil fuel extraction and production if we are to prevent the worst consequences of climate change. This is why churches are supporting and calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty now." COP is a space and a process for parties to increase their ambition to combat climate change, to agree on the path forward to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C, to work together to adapt to the impacts of climate change, and to compensate for losses and damages due to climate change. Faith actors attending COP are part of that work, and bring their experience and perspective to the negotiations each year. “Parties must respect the UN agreements, and at the last COP, it was agreed that the world should transition away from fossil fuels,” said Mattias Söderberg, co-chair of the ACT Alliance Climate Justice Reference Group. “That means that there will be an end of the fossil fuel era, and all countries must therefore ensure that their development paths become green and sustainable.” “I hope COP29 will send a strong message to all parties, to deliver strong and ambitious national climate plans,” said Julius Mbatia, ACT Alliance climate justice programme manager. “These plans should guide their efforts to address mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage in the coming years.” "Today we are living in a climate emergency and still COP29 acts like we have all the time in the world for the transition,” said Henrik Grape, coordinator of the WCC Working Group on Climate change and co-chair of the Interfaith Liaison Committee. “But we are in need of a transformation if we are to avoid the most dangerous effects of climate change. And this transformation must start among the 10 percent richest of the world since they are responsible for 50 percent of the emissions." "Medicines are also a gift from God, when used in the right amounts, but too much of any medicine can be poison,” said Niko Humalisto, advocacy specialist with Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission. “Fossil fuels have wonderful uses, but too much use of them can be, and already is, deadly for too many people around the world." “The Bible teaches us that God placed people on earth to take care of it, emphasizing our collective role as its stewards rather than exploiters,” said Romario Dohmann, a member of the Lutheran World Federation delegation comprising representatives from the communion’s member churches. “This stewardship implies a duty to protect and care for creation. “The climate emergency we are facing today is an important sign that we have failed to be good stewards of God’s creation. We are most urgently called to change our ways, and to work towards climate justice,” continued Dohmann, who comes from the Evangelical Church of the River Plate. ACT Alliance, World Council of Churches, and Lutheran World Federation are all part of the Interfaith Liaison Committee to the UNFCCC. The Interfaith Liaison Committee released its Call to Action for COP29, which includes: “All countries must prioritise the urgent phase-out of fossil fuels, which are the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions, by eliminating subsidies and supporting a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, rejecting compromising or geoengineering solutions that prolong fossil fuel use.” The ACT Alliance, Lutheran World Federation, and World Council of Churches are three of the almost 60 faith-based organizations who have signed the Call to Action. Read the full message Beyond numbers: COP29 side event advocates for justice-driven climate finance (WCC news release, 12 November 2024) “Creation itself is a teacher,” urge faith leaders at COP29 prayer service (WCC news release, 11 November 2024) WCC advocates for justice-driven climate action at COP29 (WCC news release, 11 November 2024) WCC, ACT Alliance, and Lutheran World Federation issue joint call to action for biodiversity (News Release, 30 October 2024) WCC advocates for creation care and justice at start of triple COP journey (News Release, 24 October 2024) WCC photo gallery: COP29
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