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The WCC's participation followed the Living Planet programmatic plan on theological education and transformation, including the latest edition of ECOTHEE, the International Conference on Ecological Theology and Environmental Ethics, which has been organized under the auspices of the WCC and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I since its conception in 2008. The EuARe–ECOTHEE collaboration continues to strengthen the dialogue between theology, ecology, ethics, and interreligious cooperation in responding to today's global challenges.
Hosted by the LUISS Guido Carli University (Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali) in Rome, this year's conference was organized around the overarching theme "Religions and (In)Equalities." The theme addressed one of the defining challenges of our time, recognizing that the world continues to experience profound inequalities in human rights, wealth distribution, the impacts of climate change, and environmental justice.
Rather than considering religion merely as an object of academic study, the conference explored how religious traditions can contribute either to reducing or reinforcing inequalities; shape responses to ecological, economic, and political crises; influence migration, healthcare, education, and technological development; promote peacebuilding and interreligious dialogue; and advance justice, human dignity, and care for creation.
The organizers describe EuARe as one of Europe's largest international academic conferences on religion, bringing together scholars from universities, research institutes, religious organizations, publishers, and learned societies from across Europe and around the world. Previous editions have attracted well over 1,000 participants, while this year's conference welcomed more than 1,600 participants, confirming EuARe's position as a leading international forum for academic research on religion and its significance for contemporary society.
The WCC delegation included Prof. Dr Angeliki Ziaka, programme executive for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation, and Dr Louk Andrianos, WCC consultant on Care for Creation, Sustainability, and Climate Justice.
Together they organized the open panel entitled "Interreligious Approaches to Eco-Justice and the WCC Prophetic Call: Shared Responses to Environmental Challenges and Inequalities." The panel brought together scholars from diverse religious traditions and geographical regions who presented research on ecological theology, climate justice, and interreligious cooperation. Particular attention was given to the WCC's Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025–2034) and to the growing interreligious dimensions of the WCC’s programme on climate justice and care for creation.
Andrianos also organized a second open panel, "Ecotheology in the World Religions: Towards More Equitable and Sustainable Communities," in collaboration with Prof. Dr Tom Sverre Bredal-Tomren, chair of the European Christian Ecotheological Research Network and professor at VID Specialized University.
In addition to the numerous presentations on ecotheology, eco-justice, and interreligious collaboration, Andrianos participated in the launch of the new international open-access journal Ecothe, for which the WCC is one of the supporting institutions and Andrianos serves as co-editor. The journal was officially presented for the first time in Rome, and its inaugural online issue became freely available during the conference through its website (www.ecothe.org).
The conference programme included keynote lectures, open and closed panels, book presentations, and scholarly discussions dedicated to the broad theme of religions and inequalities.
“The WCC panels attracted significant interest from theologians, scientists, and scholars, particularly the presentation of the Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025–2034) and its interreligious dimensions,” said Andrianos.
"The European Academy of Religion provides an exceptional ecumenical and interdisciplinary platform where scholars and faith leaders can deepen dialogue, strengthen cooperation, and develop new research that contributes to addressing growing inequalities and the ecological crisis facing humanity," added Ziaka.
Looking ahead, the next EuARe conference will be held in Germany. Ziaka expressed the WCC's commitment to continue contributing to this unique international platform, strengthening interreligious dialogue, ecological responsibility, and shared efforts for peace, justice, and unity for creation care.
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