WCC News: Consultation will explore how churches can address desertification through responsible banking

Together with churches from the Mediterranean region, an online consultation on 9 December will explore the opportunities to address desertification through responsible banking. Visual: WCC 04 December 2024 Desertification of the Mediterranean region is fuelled by the ongoing increase of CO2 emissions, of which over 75% are caused by fossil fuels. The webinar will provide a space for churches from the region to discuss their response to this challenge, and will provide resources sheets for educational activities. The consultation will include member churches from the region, experts from Middle East Council of Churches, Conference of European Churches, and All Africa Conference of Churches, as well as Dr Mercedes Caron, scientific researcher at the European Forest Institute. Speakers will also include Tony Rinaudo, World Vision, principal climate action advisor, Right Livelihood award laureate; Rosie Venner, Just Money Movement; Dinesh Suna, WCC programme executive for Land, Water, and Food; and Frederique Seidel, WCC Children and Climate programme executive. The webinar aims to sensitize churches and partners to the urgency of addressing desertification in the Mediterranean region, and the powerful, yet still largely unknown lever of responsible investment choices. A new handbook about the legal avenues for climate action and responsible banking will also be shared during the meeting. Register for the webinar  More information on the event Fact-sheet "Faith in Land, Faith in our Children’s Future: Using Our Power as Bank Clients to Combat Desertification" From Despair to Hope: A call to action on climate change and responsible banking (WCC news release, 17 October 2024) "From Despair to Hope": Call to action on climate change and responsible banking 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