WCC NEWS: WCC presents message at major international “Faith and Science” talks ahead of COP26

The World Council of Churches (WCC) presented a message at a major international gathering of world religious leaders and scientists ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, Archbishop Justin Welby, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Pope Francis, and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar. Photo: Judge Abdelsalam 4 October 2021 The gathering, “Faith and Science: Towards COP26,” held 4 October, brought together some 40 leaders from the world's major religions and 10 scientists, who issued a joint appeal for COP26. The event was promoted by the Embassies of the United Kingdom and Italy to the Holy See, along with the Holy See. The event’s program explains that the talks occurred in a time when there is urgent need to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. “Faith leaders have a special part to play as the repositories of our moral values, the guides of our ethical action, and pioneers of change to make the management of their land, buildings and investments sustainable,” stated the program. “Faith leaders have long raised awareness of the dangers of climate change.” His Holiness Pope Francis addressed the global gathering, reflecting in part on the state of the climate emergency a year after the publication of Fratelli tutti, his encyclical on fraternity and social friendship. In 2015, Pope Francis wrote an encyclical on the need to protect the environment, reduce wasteful lifestyles, stem global warming and protect the poor from the effects of climate change. The 4 October talks also featured a public reading of the executive summary of Faith Leaders’ Appeal to COP26. WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca’s message focused on how people of good will need to bring their voices and commit to an ecological conversion. “As people of faith, we have to be prophetic and tell the truth of the state we are in,” said Sauca, stressing that the affirmation of one humanity and the value of human dignity within and with creation is at the heart of the search and aspirations of the WCC. Sauca closed his remarks saying that we have an obligation to care for each other and for our common home. “Creation is not for some to consume and leave others behind,” he said. Read the full text of Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca's intervention Global religious leaders, scientists join to release “Faith and Science: An Appeal for COP26” - WCC news release 4 October 2021 In lead-up to COP26, churches augment calls for climate justice - WCC news release 30 September 2021 See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland