WCC news: WCC’s Seven Weeks for Water 2025 urges faith communities to act on glacier preservation

As the Christian world enters the Lenten season, the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Water Network will launch its annual Seven Weeks for Water campaign with a prayer service at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: Anna Carin Stenbeck/Uniting Church of Sweden 27 February 2025 This year’s campaign aligns with the 2025 World Water Day theme of “Glacier Preservation,” highlighting the urgent need to address the devastating impact of climate change on the world’s glaciers. “With glaciers melting faster than ever, it severely impacts the availability of water for billions of people. It is leading to floods, droughts, landslides, and rising sea levels,” said Dinesh Suna, WCC programme executive for Land, Water, and Food, and coordinator of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network. “Communities and ecosystems worldwide are at risk. Recognizing this crisis, the Seven Weeks for Water campaign calls on faith communities to take action by reducing emissions and advocating for policies to combat glacial melt.” The campaign will feature weekly biblical-theological reflections from prominent theologians and church leaders worldwide, addressing the connections between water, climate change, and faith. The resources will be available on the WCC Ecumenical Water Network webpage and shared on WCC social media channels. Furthermore, webinars will be organized with contributors to the Seven Weeks for Water.  This initiative also aligns with global efforts such as the UNESCO and World Meteorological Organization’s "Decade of Action on Cryospheric Science (2025–2034),” which will be launched alongside the United Nations World Water Development Report 2025: “Mountains and Glaciers – Water Towers.” Churches and faith communities are encouraged to engage with the resources, host discussions, and amplify the campaign using #SevenWeeksForWater on social media. Since 2008, the WCC Ecumenical Water Network has been providing weekly theological reflections and other resources on water for the 40 days of Lent. Weekly reflections and campaign details here 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