Faith leaders reflecting on thematic clusters of the UN environmental conference, using the Talanoa dialogue methodology. Photo: Shantanu Mandal
LWF delegates reflect on faith leaders’ role at global environmental assembly
(LWI) - Faith actors have a critical role in grounding global action in ethics, justice, and the lived realities of vulnerable communities, particularly those most affected by environmental degradation.
“Within communities they offer protection to marginalized groups, and to people who advocate for the right to protect the planet but are often misrepresented as troublemakers,” said Flawa Malle, a youth leader from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.
Malle, was reflecting on her participation at the seventh session of United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) last December as a member of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) delegation there. She said LWF and other faith-based organizations at the global conference had emphasized their responsibility in advocating for communities who own and safeguard resources and those who challenge harmful narratives against them. “Caring for the environment begins with protecting the people who defend it,” she said.
Caring for the environment begins with protecting the people who defend it,
Flawa Malle, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania
“Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet” was the theme of UNEA-7. During the conference, the LWF together with the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA), the Anglican Communion, the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI), and Brahma Kumaris hosted an event bringing together 80 faith leaders. Using the Talanoa dialogue methodology, participants reflected on the thematic clusters of the UN conference through three guiding questions: where are we, where do we want to go, and how do we get there. Discussions focused on values, ethics, existing entry points for faith actors within UNEA, and opportunities for stronger collective action and coordination.
The faith leaders reflected on their engagement in multilateral environmental processes, underscoring the importance of people-centered approaches, ethical leadership, and meaningful inclusion within global environmental governance. They highlighted both the potential of faith-based engagement to influence policy and practice, and the ongoing challenges of translating international commitments into tangible change at community level.
Shared responsibility
Collins Omondi, Advocacy Officer for Protection and Social Cohesion, LWF Kenya-Somalia country program, said confronting environmental and climate crises requires courage, cooperation, and respect for all forms of knowledge. “From restoring transboundary waters to elevating indigenous wisdom, empowering communities, and strengthening multilateral action, we are reminded that resilience is a shared responsibility. The future we want depends on the choices we make now and on our collective commitment to protect the planet that sustains us,” he noted.
For the first time at UNEA, LWF co-hosted a side event with ecumenical partners titled, “Ethical pathways to a just and resilient planet.” Panelists demonstrated how faith-based organizations strengthen community resilience in the face of climate-driven and environmental disruption. They discussed initiatives that address the link between environmental and social crises; advocacy for the protection and inclusion of climate-displaced persons in development planning; and ethical leadership and justice-centered policies.
Flawa Malle, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. Photo: Brian Nderitu
LWF delegates outside the UN office in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: Brian Nderitu
At the side event, Jean de Marie Kabunga shared how local approaches are yielding tangible results through a climate adaptation project implemented by the LWF country program across Cameroon and Chad. “The project has strengthened community resilience by increasing household incomes, restoring degraded soils through nature-based solutions, and protecting local ecosystems,” he said. “It has enhanced human security and advanced women’s empowerment through conflict-resolution efforts.”
Elena Cedillo, LWF Program Executive for Climate Justice, noted that UNEA-7 had highlighted how people-centered and nature-based approaches help to mitigate the impact of climate change while protecting biodiversity loss and land degradation, particularly in developing countries.
The assembly adopted resolutions on various topics including coral reefs, wildfires, glaciers and the broader cryosphere, coherence and synergies, artificial intelligence, youth participation, minerals and metals, chemicals and waste. At the same time, Cedillo observed, several resolutions were “weakened” during negotiations. “Language on binding commitments and timelines was often diluted to reach consensus, and persistent disagreements over responsibility, equity, and means of implementation limited stronger accountability,” she said.
“Translating resolutions into national action remains a major challenge, as many outcomes rely on voluntary measures without clear monitoring or enforcement,” Cedillo added.
