WCC News: Churches bring knowledge of resilience to COP31, says Takeshi Komino

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is taking part in COP31, the 31st UN climate conference, in Antalya, Türkiye. It works there alongside the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance, and advocacy. Takeshi Komino of Church World Service, a member of the ACT Alliance delegation, says that churches bring to the negotiations knowledge of how to turn climate money into climate resilience in communities. The WCC spoke with him about disasters, the work of churches, and why local voices belong in international climate talks. Photo: Valter Hugo Muniz/WCC 11 November 2026 Komino is general secretary of Church World Service Japan, which opened after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. His work in countries across Asia covers disaster management and disaster risk reduction: work to prevent and reduce disaster risks and to prepare communities to respond and recover after a disaster. On 26 August 2026, a debris flow, meaning a fast-moving mass of water, mud, and rock, travelled nearly 100 kilometres through river valleys in Nepal. The US Geological Survey says a glacier collapse likely triggered it. What is the connection between disasters and climate change? Komino: What we’re dealing with is rising temperature. What happened in Nepal is the snow melt that seeps into the fragile bedrock. And that led to deep-seated landslide. And that became a significant debris flow, which was as big as tsunami. But if that snow melt didn’t happen, then that disaster would never occur. And the same thing with flooding as well. So we’re having too much rain in a very short limited time, and that causes the river system to overflow. And that’s something that we could not imagine in the 20th century when we built our infrastructure. How do you see the work of churches with communities that face these risks? Komino: At the end of the day, it’s about transforming one’s thinking and way of life. People need to know how to protect themselves. People need to know how to read the changes in the environment. And risk is never static. You know, even when you say you’re from a flood-prone area, your risk is not static. There are times that the risk becomes the highest, and that’s when the disaster event occurs around you. So people need to understand these things and adapt their lives. And I think that’s really what churches do with the communities. And they imagine the future of the community together. Why does it matter that churches are present at an international conference such as COP31? Komino: I think what the local groups can bring is really the nuance and evidence. Even if they increase the money that goes into countries, that money ultimately needs to turn into resilience. Money itself does not automatically turn into resilience. It’s not all about the money, it’s how to turn this money into impact. How can a church that does not know the technical side of these processes take part? Komino: One is the importance of the network, like WCC, like ACT Alliance, the coalition with expertise. And the second is that I see leadership leadership potential everywhere. Youth, women-led groups, or elders. In many parts of our society, there are people who take that leadership of change. And those people are the ones who are actually driving this impact on the ground. They need to be at the center of our discussion and our thinking. What would you say to people in churches who want to join the climate justice movement? Komino: Any resilience building effort starts at home in our communities. It’s not about the conference like this, but it’s about what you do in your communities. And ultimately, that’s what creates a resilient community and resilient future. So my utmost respect to people who are working on the ground with the communities, because that’s where it starts and that’s where it ends. A WCC delegation of church leaders, young people, and Indigenous people is bringing a faith voice for climate justice. Their work is part of the Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025–2034), the WCC’s ten-year commitment to climate justice. The programme will include the side event “Just Transitions away from Fossil Fuels: Voices from Faith Communities” on 12 November and the COP31 Ecumenical Service at St Alypios’ Church in Antalya on 15 November. Follow WCC’s COP31 coverage at www.oikoumene.org/cop31 and on the Living Planet WhatsApp channel WCC, ACT Alliance and LWF: COP31 must fund climate justice WCC delegation heads to COP31 and invites churches to join Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025–2034) US Geological Survey: 2026 Nepal debris avalanche and flash flood Churches bring knowledge of resilience to COP31: Takeshi Komino 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