Churches’ Commitments to Children

“There can be no keener revelation of a society`s soul than the way it treats its children” - Nelson Mandela

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The World Council of Churches advocates for children's well-being through a variety of projects at local, national and global levels. Churches have a unique position to influence society, from parents and school teachers to decision makers in public and private sectors. WCC is actively supporting through global initiatives the engagement of churches worldwide in:

Child Protection: Make sure that children feel safe in their churches, homes and communities and that children know whom to go to for help if they have a problem. Support churches in their efforts to protect children in dangerous situations, and help all children to have a birth certificate.

Child Participation: Churches aim to make decisions together with children when such decisions have something to do with children's lives. They also will plan activities for children together with children.

Climate Justice Initiatives with and for Children: Churches organize activities with children to protect our planet.

The WCC convenes its members and partners to promote the rights of children through the "Churches’ Commitments to Children".

The programme was developed with support from UNICEF and promotes engagement of churches to end violence against children, strengthening collaboration with secular partners.

In 2017, after an 18 month consultative process involving 235 experts, a consensus was reached among WCC member churches on the question “How can churches best use their influence to improve children’s lives”. An agreement was reached on three core commitments: 1. Child Protection, 2. Child Participation, 3. Inter-generational Climate Justice.

Cover letter by the WCC general secretary

List of contributors

Churhes Commitments to Children
Churches’ Commitments to Children

Open invitation to the WCC member churches and partners to address the needs of children as an integral part of the ecumenical commitment to the pilgrimage of justice and peace.

Download "Churches’ Commitments to Children"
Poster for the Churches commitments to children
Poster for Congregations

Churches uniting for children in the pilgrimage of justice and peace

Download the poster (pdf)
Resources for the implementation of Churches Commitments to Children
Resources and tools

Resources and tools developed by churches, UNICEF or other WCC partner organizations, useful for the implementation of Churches’ Commitments to Children.

 

Resources for the implementation of Churches’ Commitments to Children

As a global fellowship representing over 580 million people in more than 120 countries, WCC has a long-standing commitment to justice, peace, and care for creation. The Climate Litigation Project seeks to leverage this extensive network to hold financial institutions accountable for their responsibility in the climate emergency and to advocate for sustainable and ethical financial practices. The initiative is rooted in the belief that faith communities have a unique and powerful role to play in securing a sustainable future for all. 

The vision: We envision a world where financial institutions are stewards of creation, making climate-responsible decisions that prioritize the health of our planet and its inhabitants. By advocating for legal and systemic changes, we aim to redirect investments into sustainable sectors.

Our mission is to ensure intergenerational justice and safeguard the well-being of future generations. Through education, capacity-building, and litigation, we strive to:

  • Hold financial institutions accountable for their responsibility in the climate emergency,
  • Stop climate disinformation and promote transparency and ethical financial practices,
  • Foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders to amplify impact.

The video "From Despair to Hope" is available in Arabic, English, German, French, and Spanish languages. 

Events
Event
Title of the resource

Online Training on the legal tools for climate justice “Hope for Children”

15 April 2025

Online training on the legal tools for climate justice will introduce the newly published resource "Hope for Children Through Climate Justice: Legal Tools to Hold Financiers Accountable,” providing churches and communities essential legal tools to hold financial actors accountable for their role in perpetuating the climate crisis.

Online
Videos
Resources
Publication
Book cover in white with green text, depicting a cartoon showing children and the effect of climate change

Hope for Children Through Climate Justice

Legal Tools to Hold Financiers Accountable

The urgency of the climate catastrophe demands strong and effective responses. With fossil fuels driving over 75% of global CO2 emissions, we need to hold accountable those who still finance their expansion, harming us and future generations. 

This publication helps to empower people of faith and partners in WCC’s global constituency with the knowledge for legal action. It provides a menu of strategies particularly aimed at financial institutions, one of the most powerful levers to accelerate climate solutions. It is a call to answer the pleas of the scientific community and young people to tackle the root causes of harm to creation and protect future generation’s right to life.

23 March 2025
Publication
Faith in Land Faith in our Childrens Future Cover

Faith in Land, Faith in our Children’s Future

Using Our Power as Bank Clients to Combat Desertification

Desertification of the Mediterranean region is fuelled by the ongoing increase of CO2 emissions, of which over 75% are caused by fossil fuels. This fact sheet highlights how our financial choices can help combat desertification and create a sustainable future for our children.  It is one of several resources the World Council of Churches (WCC) has developed to support churches from the region in their response to this challenge.

27 November 2024
Document
Study document
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Climate-Responsible Finance - a Moral Imperative towards Children

“It is now time for financial service providers to accelerate the shift to renewables. They have the power – and the responsibility. The scientific and moral imperative is clear: there must be no new investment in fossil fuel expansion, including production, infrastructure and exploration.” Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, in support to the launch of the initiative on 9 May 2022.”

17 July 2024
General Secretary
Publication
Green booklet cover with child planting a tree, and coins and plants demonstrating the impact of investment on climate change.

Save Children's Lives

Responsible Banking Survival Guide
Frederique Seidel
Jodie Salter

The climate emergency represents the most dangerous threat to children’s lives and the survival of future generations. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – are by far the most significant contributor to the global climate emergency, accounting for over 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Therefore, halting new investments in fossil fuel expansion is one of the most powerful ways to accelerate climate solutions and save children’s lives.
This document provides concise guidelines for using the investment potential of individuals, organisations and churches to stop investment in fossil fuels.

09 July 2024
Publication
Cooler Earth 3rd Ed Cover

Cooler Earth - Higher Benefits (Third Edition)

Actions by those who care about children, climate, and finance
Frederique Seidel
Emmanuel de Martel
Eric Begaghel

This document was developed by the WCC’s Child Rights programme in response to requests by children and youth urging adults to find solutions to the climate crisis. This is the third updated edition.

The research examines the impact of financial choices on global warming and reviews related solutions which can bend the CO2 emissions curve (also called the “Keeling Curve”). It shares information, good practices, and suggestions on the efficiency of financial measures to address global warming. It aims to support discussions and discernment among working groups and decision-makers who want to consider influential strategies to address the climate crisis.

16 August 2022
Related news
Interview
Sr Susan Francois

Nuns file Indigenous rights resolution related to Citigroup

The Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, Catholic nuns located in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (US), have spent the past four years filing shareholder resolutions related to Citigroup, urging the parent company of one of the world’s largest investment banks to rethink its financial ties to fossil fuel projects that harm Indigenous communities.

15 April 2025
News
Title of the resource

WCC publishes resource on legal tools for climate justice

The newly published resource "Hope for Children Through Climate Justice: Legal Tools to Hold Financiers Accountable" provides churches and communities essential legal tools designed to hold financial actors accountable for their role in perpetuating the climate crisis.

24 March 2025
Churhes Commitments to Children
Churches’ Commitments to Children

Open invitation to the WCC member churches and partners to address the needs of children as an integral part of the ecumenical commitment to the pilgrimage of justice and peace.

Download "Churches’ Commitments to Children"
Cooler Earth 3rd Ed Cover
Climate-Responsible Finance - a Moral Imperative towards Children
Read the joint appeal
Online mapping platform
Online mapping platform

The map to facilitate networking and collaboration among churches and partners in the implementation of the Churches' Commitments to Children.

Open the mapping platform
Resources for the implementation of Churches Commitments to Children
Resources and tools

Resources and tools developed by churches, UNICEF or other WCC partner organizations, useful for the implementation of Churches’ Commitments to Children.

 

Resources for the implementation of Churches’ Commitments to Children
Out of the shadows family
Helping Children Out of the Shadows and Into the Light

Church resources for ending sexual violence against children

Visit the webpage here
Cover image
True Freedom

A new global resource from The World Council of Churches and The Clewer Initiative

Learn more
WCC Child Safeguarding Policy

Child Safeguarding Policy of the World Council of Churches

Learn more

If you would like to learn more about the Commitments and join efforts to improve child-wellbeing through churches - please contact us!

Mrs Frederique Seidel, Senior Advisor on Child Rights / Manager of global WCC-UNICEF Partnership
email: [email protected]
phone: +41 22 791 6320

Please do let us know if you would like to share your experience or tools with other churches.

 

Green booklet cover with child planting a tree, and coins and plants demonstrating the impact of investment on climate change.
Save Children's Lives: Responsible Banking Survival Guide

Guidelines for using the investment potential of individuals, organisations and churches to stop investment in fossil fuels.

Learn more