Pillay spoke of the interplay between global warming caused by the continued burning of fossil fuels and unabated natural resource extraction and consumption.
“We must repent from our continuing human selfishness, greed, denial of facts and apathy, which threatens the life of all creation,” said Pillay. “Rooted in faith and guided by creation care, the WCC calls for integrated policies that address the interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation while amplifying the voices of Indigenous peoples and vulnerable communities.”
Biodiversity COP16, is being held from 21 October to 1 November; the climate COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11-22 November; and the desertification COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2-13 December.
“As we observe the increasing frequency and destructive power of extreme weather events and the accelerating loss of species in many parts of the world, we are called to act now in hope and with creation!” urged Pillay. “At higher rises in temperature, climate change could drive half of the known species on Earth to extinction.”
It’s time to build bridges, not walls - ACT Alliance news release, 29 October 2024