Young people, empowered to advocate for climate justice. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
Empowering young people to advocate for climate justice
(LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) calls for small-scale climate projects initiated and led by youth, i.e. persons aged 30 or younger. Proposals are invited until 6 December. Each project should be initiated and led by young people and require endorsement by an LWF member church. Projects should run from December 2020 to March 2021.
“For LWF, climate justice points to the need for everybody to take responsibility for the care of creation. We see it as a matter of intergenerational justice,” says Eva Christina Nilsson, Director of LWF's Department for Theology, Mission and Justice, announcing the new call for proposals.
LWF’s Action for Justice Unit can support project proposals with up to 2,000 Euro. “We want to empower young people to advocate for climate justice,” says Elena Cedillo, LWF’s Program Executive for Climate Justice. “Also, we aim to increase awareness among member churches about the dynamics of mitigation and adaptation regarding climate change.” Cedillo is convinced that young people should actively engage in climate action at local and national levels.
Youth advocating for climate justice
LWF has previously supported young people initiating climate action and reaching out to schools, youth groups, and student movements.
One such project was “Bringing climate justice to Pematangsiantar” in North-Sumatra, parallel to the COP25 taking place in Madrid, Spain in 2019. Fernando Sihotang, Human Rights and Advocacy Coordinator of the Lutheran World Federation National Committee in Indonesia (KNLWF) coordinated the project.
Another project in Namibia initiated a gardening project in the rural Kavango region. Rev. Josef Ngula from The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) reached out particularly to young women, raising awareness about the local eco-systems and the contribution of organic and climate-friendly gardening to livelihoods. Nglua based his efforts on the Republic of Namibia’s National Policy on Climate Change, and he networked with several ministries and the University of Namibia to realize them.
“These examples can encourage young people to develop projects suitable to address climate justice in their context,” says Eva Christina Nilsson. “We are looking forward to receive proposals taking up such encouraging initiatives and advocating for climate justice in the different regions.”
