WCC news: Latin American and Caribbean faith leaders come together in Brazil ahead of COP30

Faith leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean will gather in Brasília, Brazil, 18-20 March, to reflect on the current reality of the climate crisis and to plan for an effective engagement in the run up to COP30, the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference. A man paddles a boat on the Ituqui River near his home, outside Santarem, in the Amazon region of Brazil, where COP30 will take place in November.  Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 14 March 2025 The gathering will bring together faith leaders from diverse traditions, fostering a powerful ecumenical alliance to amplify a collective call for climate justice.   Participants will come from across Latin American and the Caribbean, including Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Panama, Bolivia, Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic, representing Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Mennonite, Anabaptist and Reformed Churches, as well as national and regional faith-based organisations and networks and representatives of indigenous peoples. Keynote speakers include Archbishop Marines Bassotto, Anglican Archbishop of the Amazon and Cardinal Jaime Spengler, president of the Brazilian Roman Catholic Bishops Conference (CNBB) and of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM).   COP30 will be in the city of Belém, in the Amazon region, 10-21 November 2025. The last COP held in Latin America was in Lima, Peru, in 2014. With COP30 being held in Brazil, hearing the voices from church leaders in Latin America, including indigenous and youth representatives, is vital to understand the reality of climate change, the solutions they propose and ways they can get more engaged.   Key issues include the need for finance for adaptation and loss and damage, the negative impact of mining on the Amazon as well as on global warming due to deforestation and increased emissions, and the need to listen deeply to those who suffer the greatest impacts of climate change.  During the event the participants will agree a Call to Action to be handed over in person to the COP30 Presidency.   This event is organised by World Council of Churches, Caritas Internationalis, ACT Alliance, Christian Aid, Anglican Alliance, Anglican Communion Office at UN, Lutheran World Federation, CNBB, and CELAM. 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