Feature story
Interfaith Talanoa Dialogue: A Call to Action
WCC actively participates in the Interfaith Talanoa Dialogue annually. In 2024, the event was held online a week before COP29. The COP29 Interfaith Call to Action was developed transparently by members of the Interfaith Liaison Committee (ILC) and finalized a month before the conference. It was later endorsed by 61 organizations.
The statement, urging leaders to prioritize climate finance, address loss and damage, and phase out fossil fuels, was delivered to the COP29 high-level ministerial meeting by Jamie Williams of Islamic Relief, representing the unified voice of faith communities.
“The urgency to act on the climate emergency cannot be overstated. As people of faith, we are called to confront the interconnected crises of climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and land degradation with moral clarity and bold ambition,” said Williams during his presentation at the ministerial meeting.
“This means phasing out fossil fuels, adopting a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, ensuring climate finance meets real needs, and addressing economic and noneconomic loss and damage. By fostering a spirit of solidarity, compassion, and justice, we can create ripples of positive change and give the world a reason to feel hopeful about our shared future.”
Image
Side events highlight faith and climate dialogue
As part of the ILC, WCC co-convened several discussions at the Faith and Cryosphere Pavilions. These events explored the intersection of faith and science at climate negotiations, conducted an interfaith stocktake of COP29, and examined the values underpinning the climate crisis and its solutions.
At the faith and science dialogue, Ramon Pichs-Madruga, vice-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), presented findings from the 6th IPCC Assessment Report, emphasizing the role of faith groups in addressing equity issues.
Right Rev. Lydia Neshangwe, president of the All Africa Conference of Churches, noted that although faith and science are sometimes seen as incompatible, they bring together moral clarity and facts that can shift climate negotiations for the common good.
Image
During COP29, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Interfaith Liaison Committee (ILC) hold a significant press conference titled ‘Interfaith Presence and Call to Action.’ Faith leaders from various traditions unite to emphasize the moral and ethical responsibilities in addressing the climate crisis. They urge global policymakers to commit to just and sustainable climate actions, highlighting the power of interfaith collaboration in driving meaningful change.
© Valter Hugo Muniz/WCC
Press conferences amplify interfaith message
The WCC and the ILC jointly hosted two press conferences at COP29. The first focused on mobilizing faith-based organizations to confront climate change through ambitious action and accountability. The second emphasized the work behind the COP29 Interfaith Call to Action and its unified message.
Valerianne Bernard, representing the Brahma Kumaris, noted, “The partnership with WCC and the ILC exemplifies how faith traditions, when united, can inspire unprecedented action towards ecological justice and planetary care.”
“COP29 took place in a world where conflicts, national, and business interests overshadow the urgent need to protect the most vulnerable, including ecosystems,” said Rev. Henrik Grape, WCC senior advisor on Care for Creation, Sustainability, and Climate Justice. “At this time, interfaith collaboration adds a vital moral and faith-based perspective, proclaiming the human right to a safer and more sustainable world. This is pivotal in changing the path to our common future.”
