Blog post
A unified cry
Our spiritual leaders have been prophetic voices:
His Holiness Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato Si’, calls us to an “ecological conversion,” to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. His successor Pope Leo XIV is carrying on in this direction, asking all of people of good will to respect and protect the holy creation of God.
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, long known as the “Green Patriarch,” has tirelessly taught that to commit a crime against the natural world is a sin.
Global Christian bodies have all mobilized their communities, declaring climate action a core gospel issue of justice and stewardship. The All Africa Conference of Churches powerfully underscores that Africa, while contributing least to emissions, suffers most from their consequences.
Practical proposals: a new style of daily life
An ecological metanoia must be embodied in concrete action. Let us commit to:
Embrace energy conversion: Audit our church and home energy
Alter our consumption: Choose local, seasonal, and sustainably produced food. Drastically reduce single-use plastics and meat consumption.
Cultivate gardens of Eden: Create parish and community gardens. Plant trees as acts of faith and hope. Protect local biodiversity.
Advocate and educate: Use our voices to advocate for bold climate policies. Write to elected officials. Support the work of organizations aligned with our values.
Participation and education
To sustain this effort, we must build structures for the long term:
In our parishes: Establish a Green Team or Creation Care Committee to implement practical projects and educate the congregation.
In our schools and universities: Integrate ecological theology and ethics into every level of curriculum. Science must be taught alongside ethics.
Global partnerships: Encourage our institutions to divest from fossil fuels and reinvest in a green economy.
The full meaning of ecological metanoia
Beloved brothers and sisters, when we speak of ecological metanoia—a profound spiritual transformation away from our ecological sins—we must understand its full, demanding scope. A true ecological metanoia compels us to:
1. Restore justice to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals: The UN's Sustainable Development Goals are not a secular agenda but a modern blueprint for biblical justice.
2. Right the historical wrongs of colonialism: A fundamental aspect of our ecological sin is the theft and exploitation of land belonging to Indigenous peoples during colonial rule. We must repent for the times Christianity was misused to justify this plunder and stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities in their struggles.
3. Fulfill our moral responsibility to former colonies: Many nations now suffering the most severe effects of climate change and deep poverty are nations that were once colonized by Christian powers. Ecological metanoia requires tangible acts of repair, including debt justice, climate finance, and educational reparation.
About the author :
H.E. Metropolitan Serafim Kykotis, from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, is a member of the WCC central committee. He also serves as a member of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development and a member of the Season of Creation Advisory Committee.