Countdown to Climate Justice
The effects of climate change are being experienced dramatically in some countries and regions of the world, particularly in Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific and South East Asia. Comprehensive policies are urgently needed to reverse the impact of climate change on the poor and the earth. When creation is threatened, churches and Christians are called to speak out and act as an expression of their commitment to life, justice and love.
Countdown to Copenhagen
The UN summit in Copenhagen was to set the agenda for the next stage of the fight against climate change. On 13 December, Archbishop Desmond Tutu handed 512,894 signatures collected at countdowntocopenhagen.org calling for a fair, ambitious and binding agreement over to the top UN climate official Yvo de Boer. Watch the video.
Bellringing campaign
Sunday 13 December at 3 p.m. - at the height of the talks in Copenhagen - the churches in Denmark have rung their bells, and thousands of churches around the world have echoed them by sounding their own bells, shells, drums, gongs or horns 350 times. Why 350 times? Who has taken part? Learn more at bellringing350.org.
Praying for Creation
1 September to 4 October is Time for Creation. This year churches were encouraged to focus on the situation of those islands in the Pacific that are in the front line of climate changes. As sea levels are already on the rise and shore lines disappearing, the Pacific churches are sounding the alarm and calling Christians around the world to join in prayer. Click here for a collection of texts and ideas that you can use to pray for Creation.
WCC climate change background
The WCC climate change programme was started in 1988 as a follow-up to work done on sustainable communities since the mid-1970s. Click here for more background on WCC climate change statements, videos, and other resources.
WCC is a member of TckTckTck - an unprecedented global alliance, representing hundreds of millions of people from all walks of life. It is made up of leading international, national and local organizations addressing environment, development, poverty, human rights, health and humanitarian issues. It represents faith-based groups, youth groups, trade unions and individuals all calling for a fair, ambitious and binding climate change agreement in December 2009 in Copenhagen. The world is ready!
The WCC has endorsed the Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change and the Global Call to Prayer for the succesful conclusion of the Copenhagen UN Climate Conference.
