WCC NEWS: COP30 faith leaders call for reparations, not debt, from wealthy polluters

At a press conference organised by the Interfaith Liaison Committee at COP30 on 11 November, faith leaders demanded wealthy nations provide climate finance as grants, not loans, to communities hardest hit by a crisis they did not cause. At an interfaith press conference organised by the Interfaith Liaison Committee (ILC) at COP30 today, faith leaders demanded wealthy nations provide climate finance as grants, not loans, to communities hardest hit by a crisis they did not cause. Photo:WCC 12 November 2025 "We have launched an Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action at our central committee meeting in Johannesburg in June. And the reason that the word 'justice' is part of this title is very important," said World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee moderator Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm. "It cannot be that those who have contributed least to climate change are the first victims. There needs to be reparatory justice for those who are now the victims." Bedford-Strohm said churches should not only pressure politicians but also "encourage those people in politics who are ready to take the right steps, but who also face resistance in their own national societies." Ruth Alesandra Choque Huanca from the Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church described what her community faces. "Adaptation should not be a privilege; it must be a right," she said. "In my community, women and elders are the first to notice the changes - when the rain comes, when the river is dry, or when the sun boils too strong." Africa contributes just four percent of global emissions but carries a disproportionate burden, said Irene Anena of ACT Alliance Uganda. "The population majority of the grassroots community where I come from is bearing the biggest burden of climate impacts," she said. Nicolas Rosenthal, ACT Alliance moderator, rejected debt-based climate finance. "Climate balance cannot be based on debt but on historical responsibility and ethical reparation by those who have polluted the most," he said. "From an ethical and faith-based perspective, grants are a form of justice and restitution, not charity." Rev. Henrik Grape, co-chair of the Interfaith Liaison Committee, moderated the press conference, which followed an interfaith Talanoa dialogue. The demands come as negotiators prepare to finalise climate finance commitments at COP30. Press conference photo gallery Follow WCC's COP30 coverage at www.oikoumene.org/cop30 Click here to join the WhatsApp channel Interfaith Talanoa Dialogue centres ethics at COP30 (News Release, 11 November) Churches called to lead climate action as world leaders gather for COP30 (Feature Story, 6 November) Daily COP30 updates connect churches to climate negotiations (News Release, 5 November) WCC calls COP30 a "kairos moment" for climate transformation (News Release, 4 November) 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 356 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