Document
We stand at a critical juncture where human actions have inflicted profound harm upon the marine ecosystem, threatening the health of the Earth and the well-being of current and future generations.
Our spiritual traditions teach us that creation is a sacred gift entrusted to humanity. The oceans, covering over 70% of the Earth's surface, are not merely resources to be exploited for economic expansion and financial gain, but are indeed the very essence of life on this planet. The oceans are not only important for the survival of the marine ecosystem. It is the largest carbon sink on Earth, absorbing a significant portion of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere through phytoplankton photosynthesis processes. This absorption helps mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. With rising temperatures due to climate change, this function is being deeply compromised.
Our moral imperative is to protect these vast waters inspired by models of stewardship and our commitment to justice. Our faith insists that we recognize the interconnectedness of all life, urging us to act ethically and responsibly in our relationship with each other and with the environment, especially with respect to the marine ecosystem that sustains life on Earth.
The Sustainable Development Goal 14—Life Below Water—serves as both a scientific guide and a moral imperative. It calls for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources, emphasizing that the health of our oceans is inseparable from the health of our planet and humanity. Churcheshave a vital role to play in translating the SDG’s principles into moral action—mobilizing hearts and minds to foster behaviours rooted in respect, care, and justice.
The oceans are facing unprecedented challenges: overfishing, plastic pollution, nuclear testing and waste dumping, sea-bed mining, habitat destruction, marine biodiversity loss, acidification, and climate change. Among these, deep-sea mining is currently being promoted by governments and corporations in the name of fostering a Blue Economy, sustainable development, and national security. Our churches in the Pacific view this push as a new form of colonization with the oceans as the latest frontier for profitmaking. The WCC stands in solidarity with Pacific Conference of Churches in resisting this Blue Colonization.
These threats are not merely environmental issues but moral issues that speak to our shared responsibility. The destruction of marine life and ecosystems impacts the most vulnerable—coastal communities, indigenous peoples, small-scale fishers, and the children. We must listen to the voices of these communities and stand in solidarity with them, advocating for policies that bolster resilience, restore ecosystems, and ensure equitable sharing of marine resources. We particularly stand with the people of the small islands nations whose lands are being submerged due to sea level rising as a result of climate change. Despite negligible contribution to the greenhouse gas emissions, they are at the receiving end.
In the moral and spiritual dimensions of our engagement, we underscore that sustainable ocean stewardship requires more than technological solutions—it demands a transformation of hearts, practices and policies. We urge faith communities to serve as moral catalysts and agents for change, inspiring individuals and institutions to embrace sustainable actions rooted in justice and care for creation. This includes stopping the export of waste to low-income countries (“waste colonialism”) which often end up in the seas, reducing plastic pollution, supporting sustainable fisheries, protecting endangered marine biodiversity, and advocating for reparations for nuclear testing in oceans, a global ban on deep-sea mining, and climate measures that limit ocean warming and acidification.
In humility, we recognize that our human failures—greed, indifference, and shortsightedness—have compromised the oceans’ health. Yet faith offers hope and a way forward. We believe that through prayer, reflection, and collective action inspired by divine justice and love, we can ignite a global movement for the oceans—one that respects their sacredness and ensures their vitality for generations to come.
As this important Ocean conference unfolds, we call upon all involved to integrate the moral and ethical dimensions into their policies and actions. Let us renew our commitment to care for the oceans not only as an environmental necessity but as a moral duty embodied in divine principles of justice, stewardship, and compassion.
May this conference reinforce our shared commitment to safeguard the marine environment—honouring its sacredness, restoring its bounty, and ensuring that future generations inherit a resilient and just oceanic world, which is vital for the very survival of our planet Earth.
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General Secretary, WCC
