WCC NEWS: India-led interfaith initiative addresses ecological challenges through "nexus approach" webinars

As interconnected crises of land degradation, water scarcity, and food insecurity intensify worldwide, faith communities in India are taking the lead to address these challenges through a holistic "nexus approach." The India Peace Centre, in collaboration with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the National Council of Churches in India, is launching a certificate programme consisting of four educational webinars on the nexus approach to land, water, and food. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance 20 May 2025 "Addressing land, water, and food issues in silos is not the best way forward," said Dinesh Suna, WCC programme executive for Land, Water, and Food. "We need to have a 'nexus approach' that recognizes how these resources are interconnected and how their management impacts sustainability, security, and resilience." This locally developed initiative builds upon the January 2025 launch of an "Interfaith Coalition on Land, Water, and Food" in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, and a followup seminar on the nexus approach held in Nagpur on 16 April. Both events were convened in collaboration with the WCC as well as diverse Indian stakeholders, including academics, faith representatives, social workers, scientists, and youth. The webinar series will take place on four consecutive Thursdays: 22 May, 29 May, 5 June, and 12 June, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm (IST) /14:00-16:00 CEST. The webinars will be conducted in English. Each session will explore different aspects of the nexus approach, including: land restoration, right to water, World Environment Day, and hunger. Academicians and experts from India will lead the sessions, joined by international resource persons, especially from the WCC Working Group on Land, Water, and Food Justice. Angelious Michael, director of India Peace Centre, is also a member of this working group and will lead the webinars. Recordings of all webinars will be made available to registered participants following each session. The programme aims to engage approximately 100 committed students, youth, and professionals from across India who will continue strategic engagement on land, water, and food as peace and justice issues for at least three years. Please register for the webinar series HERE WCC, with India Peace Centre, launches Interfaith Coalition on Land, Water, and Food- WCC News release 9 January 2025   Faith and science unite: joint seminar addresses land, water, and food crisis- WCC News release 17 April 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