The faith leaders are calling on the G20 to fix inequality and tackle climate change, which is the greatest challenge facing humanity today. The photo above shows a farmer participating an LWF project "Gender Transformative Climate Adaptation" in Cameroon and Chad. Photo: LWF/M. Renaux
In a letter to G20 leaders meeting in Brazil, LWF and partners call for far-reaching tax policies and meaningful climate action
(LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has joined with ecumenical partners in urging the leaders of G20 nations, meeting in Brazil this week, to take action “to halt growing inequality and enable meaningful and effective climate action.”
In a letter to Brazilian President and G20 chair, Luiz Ignácio Lula da Silva, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Anne Burghardt and leaders of the World Council of Churches, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the World Methodist Council and the Council for World Mission, stress that the world is facing “unprecedented economic, social and environmental crises.”
Economic inequality has risen to scandalous and disruptive levels, generating distrust and loss of faith in institutions.
Letter from church leaders to G20 heads of government
They note that economic inequality has risen to “scandalous and disruptive levels,” generating distrust and loss of faith in institutions.” It has also “undermined democratic systems, encouraged corporate state capture and obstructed urgent climate action.” Rather than adopting “piecemeal reforms,” they urge the the G20 leaders meeting in Brazil to introduce far-reaching tax policies and help to deliver “a timely and binding United Nations framework convention on International Tax Cooperation.”
In light of the UN Climate Conference, COP29, currently taking place in Azerbaijan, the religious leaders also urge the G20 nations “to adhere to and ramp up global pledges to reduce emissions, implement just transitions away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy that is accessible for all and to deliver climate finance - in grants instead of loans - in line with the needs of vulnerable nations and communities.”
The G20 summit is scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro from 18 to 19 November.
