WCC NEWS: WCC renews commitment to creation in time of accelerating environmental crisis

The World Council of Churches executive committee, in a statement, recognized that we are living in a time of profound ecological breakdown and deepening human suffering, tearing the interconnected design of all that God has created. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 12 June 2026 “Across the world, communities are experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, wars, and widening inequalities,” reads the statement. “Forests burn, waters are polluted, species disappear, lands become barren, and entire peoples are uprooted from their homes.” The statement urges prophetic witness and concrete action by churches, including preserving in “advocacy for ambitious and equitable policies,” and “using legal strategies and processes – accompanied by the WCC – to promote climate justice and accountability.” The statement calls on governments and the international community to “prioritize sustainability, rehabilitation, justice, and long-term socio-economic resilience.” The WCC executive committee is meeting online 8 to 12 June. Read the full statement   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