WCC news: WCC general secretary delivers keynote at G20 Interfaith Forum

As the G20 Interfaith Forum convened in Cape Town, South Africa, World Council Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay delivered a keynote presentation focusing on sustainability.  WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. Photo: Rudelmar Bueno de Faria 13 August 2025 The G20 Interfaith Forum is gathering under the theme “Ubuntu In Action: Focus on Vulnerable Communities.”  Pillay opened his remarks with a definition of the word “sustainability,” reflecting that it has become a buzzword for the current generation—but it wasn’t always a common concept.  Today, he said, the term involves both material and political aspects.  Pillay relayed how, in the 1980s, the term “sustainability” was picked up by the United Nations, then came into the forefront with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.  “The idea is that the world’s future requires a vision of development that can be sustained in the long run,” explained Pillay. “The goal must be a robust, sustainable society where each individual can feel secure.” He further reflected on the current context, including the trajectory of emissions and the worsening global climate.  “You cannot really talk about sustainability without talking about issues of inequalities,” said Pillay.  His keynote was followed by a panel discussion. Watch the recording of this event 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 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland