WCC news: WCC advocates for justice-driven climate action at COP29

The World Council of Churches (WCC) will bring a strong moral voice to COP29, the United Nations climate change conference, taking place 11-22 November in Baku, Azerbaijan. At this pivotal gathering, the WCC will champion justice-centered climate action, calling for meaningful climate finance, protection for communities most affected by climate change, and a swift transition away from fossil fuels. On the streets of New York, some 60,000 young people called upon their government officials, churches, and all the adults in their lives to not just say the right words, but begin a transformation in their daily lives. For WCC representatives, along with those from the Lutheran World Federation, ACT Alliance, and other faith-based groups, the march was an affirmation of ongoing work toward climate justice. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 11 November 2024 Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, WCC general secretary, emphasized the ethical urgency of the moment: “As people of faith, we believe addressing the climate crisis is not only a scientific necessity but a profound moral obligation rooted in Christian values of justice and compassion. We urge developed nations to lead by example, recognizing their historic responsibility and supporting a global response that meets the needs of the most vulnerable, honoring God’s creation and upholding our commitment to care for each other.” At COP29, the WCC’s key message calls for developed nations to drastically reduce fossil fuel emissions. It also stresses the urgency of increased climate finance to assist communities facing the burden of climate impacts, particularly those with fewer resources to adapt. The WCC also urges global leaders to address the profound noneconomic impacts of climate change, such as cultural loss and trauma, that disproportionately affect Indigenous peoples and other vulnerable communities. “The impacts of climate change extend beyond physical damage; they touch the very heart of communities, eroding cultural heritage and spiritual identity, particularly for Indigenous peoples,” said Athena Peralta, director of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development. “Climate finance frameworks must consider these intangible losses, respecting and protecting Indigenous knowledge as vital to resilient climate solutions.” The WCC delegation, composed of representatives from diverse regions, is working closely with faith-based and civil society partners, including the ACT Alliance, Lutheran World Federation, and Interfaith Liaison Committee to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which the WCC co-chairs. Through ecumenical and interfaith engagement, they aim to amplify a collective call for effective and just climate action, seeking to ensure that COP29 advances commitments grounded in equity, accountability, and compassion. Interfaith Dialogue on Climate urges action, compassion, and resilience ahead of COP29 (News Release, 07 November 2024) Biodiversity COP16: ethical imperatives, Indigenous perspectives—and the work ahead (News Release, 04 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) 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 Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland