WCC news: Faith-based organizations challenge "Wall Street climate consensus" at UN forum

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and partner faith-based organizations convened on 29 April for a the side event entitled “A holistic, transformative approach to climate finance: Connecting the dots between climate finance, debt and tax reform” during the United Nations Economic and Social Council Financing for Development Forum. The event highlighted the interconnections between climate action, debt relief, and tax justice as essential components of climate finance mobilization. Photo: Budi Tjajhono/Franciscans International 01 May 2025 "The climate emergency demands investment spending and a long-term perspective," emphasized Dr Manuel "Butch" Montes from the Society for International Development and Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation. "What is at stake at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development is about who makes the rules governing the global tax system and the international financial architecture." Climate finance experts stressed at the event that the current approach to funding climate action exacerbates existing injustices. Mae Buenaventura from the Asian People's Movement on Debt and Development pointed out that "the lack of climate finance is not a budget issue but a justice issue," noting that “70 percent of climate finance is in the form of loans, deepening indebtedness." "Climate vulnerable poor countries are shelling out more and more in debt servicing every year," Buenaventura added. "It's important to note that the climate and debt crises are rooted in one system. This calls for system change." Mariana Paoli from Christian Aid cautioned against relying too heavily on private financing mechanisms. "Poor and developing countries need close to USD 5 trillion to respond to the climate emergency. While this is a massive figure, there is no lack of money," she explained. "Currently there is a risky focus on private finance and multilateral development banks to deliver this finance—what we call the 'Wall Street climate consensus.' This is risky because private finance is profit-oriented, not people and climate-oriented. It is critical to reclaim the role of public finance." Photo: Sue Rheem/PCUSA Rev. Philip Vinod Peacock from the World Communion of Reformed Churches connected these economic realities to faith perspectives. "There can be no silos between the ethical/moral and the economic and political," he said. "The biblical vision of jubilee calls for the cancellation of debts, liberation from enslaving economic systems and rest of the land." Peacock outlined practical steps for faith-based and civil society organizations: "What can we do to break down the silos between climate, debt, and tax policy? We need to highlight the connections between climate, debt, and tax. We need to develop relationships. And we need to build solidarity across impacted communities and movements fighting for climate, debt, and tax justice." In closing the event, Athena Peralta, WCC director of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, highlighted two key WCC campaigns addressing these interconnected issues: the "Turn Debt into Hope" campaign, which advocates for debt cancellation and just financial relations, and the "ZacTax" campaign, which promotes progressive taxation and economic justice.  The side event was co-organized by the WCC, World Communion of Reformed Churches, Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council, Council for World Mission, Christian Aid, and ACT Alliance. Zacchaeus Campaign Turn debt into hope Campaign Faith leaders call for urgent economic transformation to combat inequality and climate crisis (News Release, 15 April 2025) WCC calls for action on climate finance, debt cancellation, and tax justice at UN Human Rights Council (News Release, 18 March 2025) Turn Debt into Hope: A faith-driven call for justice and sustainability (News Release, 04 February 2025) 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