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As climate change continues to devastate vulnerable communities worldwide, the World Council of Churches (WCC) called on the UN Human Rights Council to address the "climate-debt-tax-human rights nexus as a moral imperative." The statement, delivered by Rev. Peter Adenekan during the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, highlighted how debt obligations are preventing governments in developing countries from meeting basic human rights and responding effectively to the climate emergency.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) joined diplomats, faith-based organizations, and leading experts at a roundtable discussion celebrating Geneva’s legacy in global environmental governance. Organized as part of the Geneva Environment Network's 25^th-anniversary series of events, the discussion focused on the vital role of faith-based organizations in tackling the triple planetary climate change crisis, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

At the recent United Nations Social Forum, the World Council of Churches (WCC) led global calls for a renewed economic system that prioritizes human rights and environmental sustainability. Held from 31 October to 1 November at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the forum brought together representatives from governments, civil society, and academe to discuss the impact of finance on development and human rights. 

The World Council of Churches (WCC), along with global faith organizations, raised urgent awareness of the growing hunger crisis through the "Weekend of Prayer and Action Against Hunger." Inspired by Isaiah 58—"to loose the chains of injustice, untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free...and share our food with the hungry"—this global movement called on faith communities to take spiritual and practical steps to help end hunger.

The World Council of Churches (WCC), as part of the Geneva Interfaith Forum on Climate Change, Environment, and Human Rights, co-hosted a side event at the 56th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The event, titled "A Human Rights and Ethical Perspective on Noneconomic Loss and Damage in the Context of Climate Change," emphasized how non-economic losses—such as the loss of life, health, cultural heritage, and flora and fauna—pose serious threats to the enjoyment of human rights and social wellbeing, and demand remedial action.

As the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting commenced in Davos beginning 15 January, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay urged the gathering to renew its commitment to multilateral cooperation for the longer-term good of all people. 

The forum is convening under the theme “Rebuilding Trust.” 

World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca sent a letter of congratulations to Rebeca Grynspan, the new secretary general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

Bridging the gap between faith and investments with cooperation between different groups was the focus of recent a two-day conference in Geneva. It was a rare meeting of the likes of asset managers and clergy, and the solution at the heart of success was how to collaborate for success based on Christian principles.

As the International Labour Organization celebrates 100 years, faith-based and civil organizations commended the anniversary, and also renewed calls for decent work for all.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting the public, media, and all people of goodwill to join in a Midday Prayer on 20 March. Prayers will focus on grieving family, friends and colleagues who lost loved ones from UN agencies, the WCC and other organizations who perished in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash on 10 March.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting the public, media, and all people of goodwill to join in a Midday Prayer on 20 March. Prayers will focus on grieving family, friends and colleagues who lost loved ones from UN agencies, the WCC and other organizations who perished in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash on 10 March.

Leaders from more than 20 international and national associations of Christian entrepreneurs from 60 countries and diverse Christian traditions gathered at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva from 22-23 January for a conference titled, “Faith-based Entrepreneurs: Stronger Together.”

This week world leaders are gathered in Davos under the very theme of “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World”. They do so at a time when we see poverty amongst plenty; hunger and thirst in the midst of abundance; shocking disparities in the quality of life between neighboring communities: real problems that the world has the potential and the possibilities to resolve.

Faith groups gathered at the Ecumenical Centre on 16 January to evaluate from faith and human rights perspectives the outcomes of the 23rd Conference of Parties (COP 23) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. They discussed the role of faith-based organizations in the Talanoa Dialogue emerging from COP 23 and began to cooperate for effective and meaningful faith-based engagement in COP 24.

In a message to the World Economic Forum, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit said he can think of no greater antithesis to a vision of shared life and responsibility than the continued existence of and political and social support for nuclear weapons.

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, will participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos from 24-26 January, 2018. If you are interested in more information or in arranging an interview with Dr Tveit, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Athena Peralta is dedicated to observing and encouraging people who are defending their livelihood and defending creation across the world. “There is so much injustice in this world that it is really something beautiful to learn about and be able to accompany, even in tiny ways, struggles of communities and churches,” she said.

The chief cleric of Cairo’s prestigious mosque and university, H.E. Professor Dr Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar al Sharif, has decried the present-day “civilizational crisis” of poverty and insecurity and called for interreligious collaboration to address it.

World Health Day, 7 April, is focusing this year on diabetes. The World Health Organization has released its first Global Report on Diabetes, which reveals that the number of adults living with diabetes has almost quadrupled since 1980 to 422 million, or 8.5% of the world’s adult population.