As climate impacts intensify, frontline communities face growing threats to their rights, livelihoods, and futures, including displacement and climate-related human mobility. The side event will look at what that climate finance should actually do: support adaptation, address loss and damage, strengthen resilience, prioritize affected communities, and advance climate justice.

Speaking in person will be Harriet Hirst of the Environment and Climate Change Team at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Lindsey Fielder Cook, representative for the Human Impacts of Climate Change Programme at the Quaker United Nations Office; Athena Peralta, director of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development; and Elena Cedillo, programme executive for climate justice at the Lutheran World Federation. 

Joining via video will be Juana María Ibáñez Rivas, chair of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development, and Illari Aragon, global advocacy and policy lead at Christian Aid and co-chair of the ACT Alliance Climate Justice Reference Group. Budi Tjahjono, international advocacy director for Franciscans International, will moderate.

Those in Geneva will be welcome to attend in person in Room XI, Palais des Nations. Others will be able to follow the discussion via the online livestream (see Links, below). The event will be co-organized by Franciscans International, ACT Alliance, Quaker United Nations Office, Soka Gakkai International, WCC, Lutheran World Federation, Dominicans for Justice and Peace, and Christian Aid.

The side event forms part of the WCC's continuing engagement in the Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025–2034), as churches worldwide also mark the Season of Creation, the annual ecumenical observance running from 1 September to 4 October.

Care for Creation and Climate Justice (WCC)

WCC urges binding finance rules for global justice (Feature Story, 02 April 2026)