Participants in the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last December, highlight the urgency of ending the use of fossil fuels. Photo: LWF/A. Hillert
Leaders and congregations invited to sign Faith Letter for Season of Creation’s day of action on 21 September
(LWI) - Member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and partners are invited to endorse a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, on or before 21 September which has been designated as a ‘day of action’ during this year's Season of Creation. The global movement towards the introduction of a fossil fuel treaty has been gaining momentum over the past decade, as nations, organizations and individuals see it as a practical way of tackling the growing climate crisis.
The Season of Creation, a period of prayer and action observed by Christian churches of different denominations around the world, runs from 1 September, the Day of Prayer for the care of creation, to 4 October, the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi. The 2024 Season of Creation celebration guide contains a wealth of liturgical resources, prayers and practical ideas for participating in campaigns to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
LWF’s Program Executive for Climate Justice, Elena Cedillo, is urging Lutheran leaders and congregations to join the campaign by signing a Faith Letter calling on governments to develop and implement a proposed fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. Such a treaty was first requested by leaders of Pacific Island nations and others in the global South who are paying the highest price from damage caused by climate emergencies, rising temperatures and sea levels.
Now is the time to join forces to put our faith into action to demand faster and fairer progress towards a world without fossil fuels.
LWF Program Executive for Climate Justice, Elena Cedillo
Cedillo underlines the importance of this initiative to hold governments accountable. She says: “Now is the time to join forces to put our faith into action to demand faster and fairer progress towards a world without fossil fuels. This initiative draws on lessons learned from the success of previous global campaigns such as the nuclear weapons ban treaty, the landmine ban treaty and the Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer.”
While the Paris agreement set a crucial climate target to keep the rise in the earth’s temperature below 1.5 degrees centigrade, the treaty is seen as a vital tool to accelerate the transition to renewable energy for everyone, to halt the expansion of coal, oil and gas industries and to equitably phase out existing production.
As world leaders prepare to travel to New York for the 22-23 September UN Summit of the Future, Cedillo says the role of civil society, including faith-based organizations, is essential in demanding they live up to their promises and meet their commitments towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing renewable energy transitions.
She insists: “This is a crisis affecting every one of us, our churches and our communities, both today and for future generations. I encourage all Lutheran congregations and individuals to join the campaign by endorsing the Faith Letter and organizing other activities to raise awareness of this increasingly urgent issue.”
