Held from 3-5 February, the training aimed to empower churches to use legal mechanisms to hold governments, corporations, and financial institutions accountable for their contributions to the climate crisis. The training was hosted by the Anglican Church of Panama (Iglesia Episcopal de Panama). “Climate litigation offers a pathway of hope, especially for children and youth concerned about the future,” said Kevin Maina, a member of the WCC Commission for Climate Justice and Sustainable Development as well as director of Young Theologians Initiative for Climate Action. Reflecting on the tragic loss of his cousin in the deadly 2024 floods in Kenya, Maina emphasized, “Churches must rise to the challenge and promote metanoia—transformation—in the hearts, minds, and actions of people, corporations, and governments.” Participants examined how churches can engage in strategic litigation to compel climate action, stop new fossil fuel projects, and secure compensation for climate victims. “Churches can no longer fiddle while Creation burns,” stated Prof. Susan Smith, professor of Law and Director of the Certificate Program in Sustainability at the Willamette University, USA. She is also a member of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development. “The Juliana vs. US Government case, where 21 youth plaintiffs challenged government inaction, inspires faith communities. We must use every tool, including the courts, to demand accountability.” Harj Narulla, a lawyer specialising in climate law and litigation, underscored the urgency of legal action: “Litigation has long been a tool for social, economic, and political change. Climate change is no exception. By targeting financial actors who bankroll fossil fuel companies, we can disrupt the cycle of destruction and create systemic change.” An immersion programme enriched the training. The WCC met with Indigenous leaders, visited the Guna Council, Guna Baptist Church, and the Kuna Nega community, and engaged with Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, executive director of Panama’s National Climate Commission. Gomez highlighted Panama’s unique position as a carbon-negative country and stressed the leadership role of Indigenous Peoples and youth in climate action. “In Kuna Nega, families live with the consequences of environmental injustice every day,” said Dinesh Suna, WCC programme executive for Land, Water, and Food. “Churches in the community are already raising their voices, and through climate litigation, we can amplify their struggle on a global scale.” The training concluded with a commitment to integrate climate litigation into the WCC’s broader climate justice strategy, particularly in preparation for COP30 in Belem, Brazil, in November 2025. “New legal and scientific developments are opening doors for fresh litigation strategies,” said Athena Peralta, director of the WCC Commission for Climate Justice and Sustainable Development. “Faith communities have a moral responsibility to act, and churches must take bold steps to seek justice for the most vulnerable.” As part of this effort, the WCC Handbook "Hope for Children Through Climate Justice: Legal Tools to Hold Financiers Accountable", set for release in March 2025, will serve as a key resource for churches seeking legal action to advance climate justice. “All churches and partners are warmly encouraged to join the online trainings about the handbook "Hope for Children through Climate Justice", which will start in March,” said Frederique Seidel, WCC senior programme lead for Children and Climate. “Watch out for the announcement of dates and timezones, which will be shared on the WCC website’s event calendar soon.” Churches and partners who would like to join this project are invited to send a note to churchesforchildren@wcc-coe.org. WCC, with churches in Caribbean and North America, debuts training on climate litigation (WCC news release, 6 February 2025) New report focuses on accelerating climate solutions through youth-focused litigation (WCC news release, 5 February 2025) 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) Learn more about Churches’ Commitments to Children and Climate-Responsible Banking | 
On January 20th, the United States saw a return to the peaceful transition of power as Donald Trump succeeded Joe Biden as the 47th Presiden...
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