Youth for Eco-Justice

“Youth for Eco-Justice” is a transformational training programme for young Christians aged 18-30 years. Addressing the links between environmental and socio-economic justice, it is jointly organized by the WCC and the Lutheran World Federation in the context of UN climate negotiations in the latter part of 2011.

The programme for young change-makers in churches, faith-based organizations and networks worldwide starts with a two-week training and immersion in the context of the international climate change negotiations (COP 17) in Durban, South Africa. The seminar will take place at the Glenmore Pastoral Centre in Durban from 26 November to 10 December 2011. In the months following the seminar the 25 participants will initiate and implement projects in their home countries on a volunteer basis.

The WCC has a long tradition of addressing the links between Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. Today, this approach is applied and updated in regard to some of the most urgent global challenges by the WCC's programmatic cluster on eco-justice, consisting of the Ecumenical Water Network, the climate justice campaign and the Poverty, Wealth and Ecology project.

The LWF has recently launched an experiment in global online youth exchange called LWF together – the Earth needs You. It brings together more than 100 youth groups in 45 countries that address eco-justice with concrete activities.

“Youth for Eco-Justice” will also link up with other ecumenical youth networks such as the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) and the Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe (EYCE). Both the WSCF and the EYCE have recently launched campaigns focusing on environmental justice.

Download the Youth for Eco-Justice brochure (pdf, 200 KB)