Declaration of the National Council of Churches in India on COP26

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), the National Ecumenical expression of 76 constituents including protestant and orthodox confessions and several national organizations discern in unity “to strongly proclaim our deep-rooted faith in caring and nurturing our common household – God’s Earth as fundamental Christian obligation” and thus release the following Declaration to the delegates, faith communities, world leaders and other stakeholders.

It is with profound grief and responsibility we recognize that

• The earth is overburdened and overloaded with greedy life style, a society driven by corporate centered economy and growing disparity.
• Soil, water, air, forest, mountain, animal is slowly dying and in extinction due to heavy exploitation and irresponsible behavior.
• Adivasi, Tribals and such other Indigenous Communities and forest dwellers who have been nature care takers are displaced and exploited in the name of development and
• Climate change consequences have its worse impacts on poorest countries and communities at the bottom.

We critically demand and urge urgent and responsible actions to be taken at COP26 in the following area

• Renewed commitment to reduce CO2 emissions.
• Ensuring life and livelihood of the Adivasi, Tribal and such other Indigenous communities, as well as communities at climate risk through adequate compensation for recreation.
• Stop climate change migration and minimize mining projects that harms forest, water, air and soil and largely affect forest communities.
• Call upon decision makers for urgent action to prevent the loss and damage caused by climate change; especially less rain fall, unseasonal rain and regular cyclones are the disastrous outcome of human made climate change.
• The developed nations must minimize carbon pressure on poorest countries; design alternative sustainable model of energy production; Adopt zero emission and green economy as high priority in contrast to consumption of fossil fuel.

We as faith community uphold all contributors and actors in prayer and commit for the following actions

• We place life over life style.
• We pray, meditate and reflect upon God’s commandment to recreate and restore God’s creation and care for other human being.
• We as churches in India pledge to turn all our churches into Green Churches by 2030 by being energy efficient and plastic free.
• We will advocate for climate justice and climate resilient society by urging government, corporate and global leaders.
• Network for a better and sustainable future for next generations.
• We put continuous pressure for accountability.

We offer hope and peace to the world and commit to work together for a healthy and sustainable future for all.

Drafted by:

Mr. Angelious Michael

Dr. Mathew Koshy Punnackadu Ms. Renemsongla Ozukum

Rev.A Joshuva Peter (Treasurer NCCI),

Mr. Pradip Bansrior (Executive Secretary, NCCI Dalit and Tribal/ Adivasi Concerns),

NCCI Working Group on Ecological Justice

Rev. Asir Ebenezer

General Secretary, 

National Council of Churches in India

Wednesday 27^th October 2021