A high-level webinar on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty took place on September 10, a bold sign of how the Season of Creation is a time for hoping and acting with creation. With powerful messages from faith and policy leaders, the conversation inspired deep reflections on the importance of this treaty and how we as people of faith should help bring justice to our common home.
Sign the faith letter supporting the treaty
Bishop Léonard Ndjadi Ndjate, Auxiliary Catholic Bishop of Kisangani, Congo, declared, “Religious leaders form a single voice to denounce these crimes against humanity and the environment.”
Rev. Dr. Rachel Mash of South Africa, Coordinator of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network and Green Anglicans and co-chair of the Season of Creation Steering Committee, urged “The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty calls for a halt on new projects. Read about it, educate your church, educate your school, educate your place of work. Speak to your politicians, or your city, your nation, get them to sign up.”
Bishop Lizardo Estrada, General Secretary of the Latin American Conference of Catholic Bishops and Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, Chairman of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences’ Office of Human Development also sent special messages.
The webinar was jointly organized and coordinated by the World Council of Churches, the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty team, Laudato Si’ Movement, and members of the ecumenical Steering Committee for Season of Creation.
Sign the faith letter supporting the treaty
The webinar saw the participation of the following leaders:
- Bishop Prof. Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Moderator of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, from Germany
- Tzeporah Berman, Chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, from Canada
- The Honourable Dr. Maina Vakafua Talia, Minister for Home Affairs, Environment & Climate Change, from Tuvalu
- Ruleta Camacho Thomas, Climate Ambassador, from Antigua and Barbuda
- Foday Bangura, climate activist and WCC Youth African Climate Consultant, from Republic of Sierra Leone
- Kuki Rokhum, Director of Church Engagement at A Rocha International and member of the Season of Creation Steering Committee, from India
Despite the evidence, governments worldwide still plan to produce more than twice the amount of coal, oil, and gas, consistent with a 1.5°C world, according to the Production Gaps Report. As people of faith, we know that “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God … in the hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay” (Rom. 8:19-20). We are called to take action for a just energy transition, to set creation free from the decay bondage of the fossil fuel industry.
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative strives for an international regime that complements the Paris Agreement by addressing the supply side of fossil fuels. This year, the global ecumenical call to action during the Season of Creation is to raise awareness and promote this treaty initiative, inviting people of faith and religious leaders to sign the Faith Letter. Communities, individuals, faith leaders, and organizations are encouraged to take action on September 21 to promote the treaty. You can find more information in the Advocacy Activity Guidelines.
Sign the faith letter supporting the treaty
Here are some other webinar highlights to inspire you to hope and act for a just energy transition this Season of Creation:
- “Sometimes these issues can seem overwhelming… The world is changing, we are on the cusp of transforming the world, we are imagining a new industrial society that isn’t built on debt… The organizing of the faith community is the bedrock for this. People need to be encouraged to use their voices, we need more faith institutions, more individuals, more cities… we need to create a drumbeat that will drown out the sound of the lobby of the fossil fuel industry” Tzeporah Berman, Chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative
- “Religious leaders form a single voice to denounce these crimes against humanity and the environment, wherever they come from… When a religious leader makes such a choice, he or she can rally many followers behind him or her. For today’s world needs witnesses rather than teachers, as Saint Paul VI put it… The proposed treaty could provide the global roadmap needed to halt the expansion of fossil fuels, manage a fair and gradual phase-out of coal, oil and gas, and lay a solid foundation for a truly just and sustainable energy transition.” Bishop Léonard Ndjadi Ndjate, Auxiliary Bishop of Kisangani, Congo
- “St Augustine said this: Hope has two beautiful daughters, their names are anger and courage, anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain as they are. Let us be angry at what the fossil fuel companies are doing to this wonderful planet, at the environmental destruction and the human rights abuses, let us be angry, but let us be people of hope and have courage to act and embrace the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.” Rev Dr Rachel Mash, Coordinator of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network and Green Anglicans and co-chair of the Season of Creation Steering Committee