WCC News: Sixty faith institutions announce fossil fuel divestment commitments

On 18 November, 62 faith institutions, including the World Council of Churches (WCC), announced their divestment from fossil fuel companies, sending a strong signal to negotiators at the UN climate summit in Brazil on the urgent need for fossil fuel phase out, given the harmful climate, biodiversity, and human rights impacts of extracting, transporting, and burning fossil fuels. 4 December 2023, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: A woman holds a banner reading 'Phase out fossil fuels now', as people speak up at the United Nations climate summit COP28 to end financing of the fossil fuel industry, as a step towards achieving sustainability and address the climate crisis. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF 18 November 2025 WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay reflected that, in this kairosmoment we are facing today, people of faith have to pay special attention not to be unconsciously or inadvertently complicit with the root causes fuelling the climate emergency.  “Verifying with our financial service providers that church assets are not used to finance fossil fuel expansion is a moral imperative towards children and future generations,” said Pillay, “We therefore encourage all people of good will to use tools available and verify that their banks, pension funds, and insurances do no harm by supporting what is responsible for 90% of today’s CO2 emissions – fossil fuels. Let’s together accelerate the transition to renewable energies through responsible financial choices.” Religious institutions manage a combined $3 trillion of investments globally. As well as divesting from fossil fuels, faith communities are calling on governments and banks to phase out their support for fossil fuels and to scale up investment in clean energy.  A new report from Urgewald has shown that the fossil fuel industry is planning 33% more short-term expansion than in 2021, the year in which the International Energy Agency stated that no new oil and gas fields are necessary to meet demand in a 1.5°C world.  Laudato Si’ Movement: Faith in Action: 62 Institutions Choose the Planet Over Profit World Council of Churches at the 30th UN Climate Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil 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