WCC News: New report focuses on accelerating climate solutions through youth-focused litigation

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and King’s College London, with Our Children’s Trust and Generations Together, have released a new report, “Accelerating climate solutions through youth-focused litigation: Report and findings of roundtables held at King’s College London on 5 April 2024 and 6 December 2024.”  Two Oromo children walk by the dry riverbed near Burka Dare IDP site in Seweyna woreda administrative unit, Bale Zone, Ethiopia. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF 04 February 2025 A child-friendly version of the report is also available.  The publication, and the roundtables on which it is based, note that recent years have marked a significant turning point in climate change litigation as young people around the world increasingly assert their rights by challenging institutional action and inaction on climate change. “The King’s College’s Centre for Climate Law & Governance brought together key stakeholders to explore innovative strategies for advancing the rights of children and future generations through litigation in the face of the climate crisis,” write the authors—Franka Pues, Megan Bowman, and Jenny Driscoll—in the report’s introduction. “Recent years have marked a significant turning point in climate change litigation as young people around the world increasingly assert their rights by challenging institutional action and inaction on climate change.” Yet, the authors note, despite the increase and promise of youth-led actions, there is much more to learn about their common attributes and systemic implications.  “What is – and could be – their impact on climate change action, accountability, and the ethical role and legal rights of youth and future generations?” ask the authors. “Young people are more vulnerable than adults to physical consequences of climate change (such as extreme heat, drought, and wildfires) as well as the social repercussions of caused by the climate emergency (such as harm to children’s education or their economic well-being, and increased violence).”  “Taking into account the findings of the collaboration with King’s College and Our Children’s Trust, the new WCC project “Legal action by churches for intergenerational justice” supports churches in taking a far too heavy burden from children’s shoulders, when they start understanding and facing the climate emergency,” said Frederique Seidel, Senior Programme Lead for Children & Climate at the World Council of Churches. Churches and partners who would like to join the WCC project “Legal action by churches for intergenerational justice” are invited to send a note to churchesforchildren@wcc-coe.org. Report "Accelerating climate solutions through youth-focused litigation", King’s College London WCC urges World Bank to become champion for sustainable future (05 December 2024) Young leaders share insights and passion for intergenerational climate justice (WCC news release, 08 November 2024) WCC highlights legal action for climate justice at multi-faith conference (WCC news release, 24 October 2024) When can legal action be a climate justice tool? WCC project will provide answers (WCC news release, 12 September 2024) Faith-based organizations urged to set example in climate-responsible banking (WCC news release, 04 July 2024) Roundtable advances children's rights in climate litigation (WCC news release, 09 April 2024) WCC welcomes International Criminal Court policy establishing accountability for environmental crimes (WCC news release, 26 March 2024) Learn more about Churches’ Commitments to Children and Climate-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