WCC News: WCC joins "Tax the super rich” campaign

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay shared a message with the “Tax the super rich” campaign, being organized by Oxfam and Patriotic Millionaires, and running during the G20 conference in Brazil 12-19 November. Visuals: Sayitwithmenow.org 13 November 2024 “The climate crisis is accelerating, deepening already scandalous levels of poverty and inequality,” says Pillay. “To protect our communities, climate and eco-systems, trillions of dollars must be poured into climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience-building.” Pillay suggests making the wealthiest polluters pay.  “As part of the Zacchaeus Tax campaign for global tax justice, churches have been calling for wealth and pollution taxes at different levels to mobilise resources to stamp out poverty and respond to the climate emergency,” he says. “Churches are saying: Tax the super-rich now!” Pillay also notes that this is not an empty call but one deeply grounded in the Christian scripture. “Studies reveal that an annual wealth tax on the world’s multi-millionaires and billionaires of just 5 percent could drum up US$1.7 trillion a year,” he says.  “This amount would be sufficient to end hunger worldwide through a 10-year action plan, pull 2 billion people out of poverty, fund universal healthcare and social protection for everyone living in low-income countries, and deliver climate finance and loss and damage reparations to support poor, climate-vulnerable countries,” he says. “Say it with me now: Tax the super-rich, better the lives of millions, and protect our only planetary home.” Listen to the full message of the WCC general secretary for "Tax the super rich" Learn more about the campaign: www.sayitwithmenow.org Say It With Me Now: Tax The Super Rich! 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