Event

Youth consultation: Church handbook for intergenerational climate justice

A consultation with young people from World Council of Churches (WCC) member churches will aim to gather feedback for a draft handbook for legal action, to ensure it is adapted also for young people, before finalization. 

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Woman with a child waters plants in the garden

Woman with a child on her back waters a community vegetable garden in Kayeleka Banda, Malawi.

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Young leaders hold the power to shape the world in which we live, and the decisions made by financial institutions today will have lasting effects on our environment and society for generations to come. The increase in CO2 emissions poses a significant threat to children, youth, and future generations.

The WCC is introducing the project Legal Action for Intergenerational Justice,” focusing on holding financial institutions accountable for their role in climate change. This project is anchored on the WCC Churches' Commitments to Children. The initiative aims to mobilize and build the capacity of churches and partners to utilize the law as a tool for inter-generational climate justice. 

With the World Council of Churches’ over 75 years of experience in advocacy for human rights, justice, peace, and care for creation, we believe that together we can make a significant impact,” says Frederique Seidel, WCC Children and Climate programme executive.

The projects main focus is on the financial system, specifically carbon bombs because these play a crucial yet often overlooked role in the climate crisis. Banks, pension funds, and insurances channel client cash into fossil fuel financing, undermining the sustainability efforts of climate justice. 

By concentrating on financial actors, we can uncover a powerful lever for change, which brings tangible hope for childrens futures,” says Seidel. The choices we make about where and how we bank can be impactful tools in our collective effort to combat climate change, transforming financial practices into a catalyst for a sustainable future.”

The WCC invites young people to be part of this transformative project—your voice and leadership are vital in inspiring others and driving change! By joining our efforts, you will help empower communities to hold financial institutions accountable, ensuring that they invest in a sustainable and just future.

When: 7 November 2.00 - 3.30 pm CET

Where: online 

Registration: Register here

When can legal action be a climate justice tool? WCC project will provide answers (WCC news release, 12 September 2024)