Climate Justice

Creation – Not for Sale

The LWF sees care for creation as a core calling and recognizes climate change as a matter of justice and human rights. LWF’s advocacy for climate justice focuses on the protection of the most vulnerable from the impacts of climate change and holding governments accountable to their climate commitments, intergenerational justice, and interfaith collaboration.

Since the 1970s, the LWF has raised a prophetic voice regarding the ecological and climate crisis through resolutions, statements, and action.

Following the call to advocate for climate justice, member churches and World Service programs have put concrete climate action into place across the communion.

Since 2011 when the UN Climate Change Conference COP17 took place in Durban, South Africa, the LWF has sent delegations to these high-level meetings. Here, young people from the Lutheran communion have been at the forefront of LWF’s engagement and critical advocates for climate justice.

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"#TimeForAction is Now" reads an official sign at COP25, held in Madrid, Spain, in December 2019. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert

COP Delegations

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LWF COP29 Expectations and Policy Demands

Events

Website: https://cop29.az/en/home

LWF Staff 

  • Elena Cedillo, LWF Program Executive for Climate Justice
  • Savanna Sullivan, LWF Program Executive for Youth
  • Albin Hillert, LWF Communications Officer
  • Eugenio Albrecht, LWF Communications Officer

Delegates

The LWF was represented by a total of 8 delegates attending in person and 26 participating online, from 15 member churches and 4 LWF World Service country programs or national committees. This broad participation reflects the global and inclusive nature of the communion.

In-person delegates came from the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Georgia, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia, and the Evangelical Church of the River Plate.

Online delegates joined from the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, the Evangelical Church of the River Plate, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Georgia, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia, the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, the Lutheran Church of Peru, the Mexican Lutheran Church, the Salvadoran Lutheran Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia, and the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Additional participants represented the LWF World Service country programs in Kenya and Nepal, as well as the LWF National Committee in Indonesia.

Related Materials

LWF COP28 Engagement

News

Events

Website: https://www.cop28.com/en/

LWF Staff 

  • Elena Cedillo, LWF program executive for climate justice

Delegates 

A total of 62 LWF delegates participated in the event, representing 49 member churches. These included: Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church, The National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation in Indonesia, Guatemala Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Malagasy Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany, Church of the Lutheran Brethren of Cameroon, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Württemberg, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (Cape Church), Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia, The Church of Norway, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN), Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia, Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, Lutheran Church in Liberia, Protestant Christian Batak Church (HKBP), Evangelical Church in Central Germany, Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo, Salvadoran Lutheran Church, Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia, Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, South Andhra Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Moravian Church in South Africa, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone (ELCSL), Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hannover

News

Events

Website: https://unfccc.int/cop27

Delegates

The total number of delegates of the LWF attending the event was 36, representing 32 member churches: Christ Lutheran Church, India, Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC), India, Church of Sweden, Guatemala Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, Czech Republic, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN), Evangelical Church of the River Plate, Argentina, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria, Germany, The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, Lutheran Church of Peru, Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Lutheran Church in Singapore, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Saxony, Germany, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Württemberg, Germany, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia, Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic, Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Hungary, German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine, Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, India, Guatemala Lutheran Church, Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in El Salvador, Lutheran Church in Singapore, Lutheran Church of Peru, Protestant Christian Batak Church (HKBP), Indonesia, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, United Protestant Church of France.

News

Events

Website: https://ukcop26.org/

Delegates

A total number of 32 LWF delegates attended COP26 , representing 30 member churches: Church of Norway, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, Evangelical Church of the River Plate, Argentina, Lutheran Church in Great Britain, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone, Lutheran Church in Chile, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland, Lutheran Church of the Republic of China, Taiwan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church, India, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, Church of Sweden, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany, Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church, Salvadoran Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, Protestant Christian Batak Church, Indonesia, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia, Protestant Church in the Netherlands, Lutheran Church in Singapore, Lutheran Church of Saxony, Germany, Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, India, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia.

 

Delegates 

  • Mr Sam SUKE, Lutheran Church of Australia, Australia 
  • Mr Sikiom Sagenan KISKU POLLOB, Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Church, Bangladesh 
  • Rev. Ida VARTIALA Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Finland 
  • Mr Lasse SCHMIDT-KLIE, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover Germany 
  • Ms Helena Merle FUNK, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Northern Germany, Germany 
  • Ms Kathrin NATHO Evangelical Church in Central Germany, Germany 
  • Mr Sindri Geir OSKARSSON. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland. Iceland 
  • Mr Edgar TOCLO Lutheran Church in the Philippines, The Philippines 
  • Ms R.B.Sherly PRIYANKA, United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India, India 
  • Mr Daniel Andy Hoffmann SINAGA, Batak Christian Protestant Church, Indonesia 
  • Mr Khulekani MAGWAZAH, Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa, South Africa 

LWF Staff 

  • Ms. Caroline Bader, LWF Youth Secretary, Germany 

Event: “Creation- not for sale” - LWF delegation at COP 23 

News 

Website: https://cop23.com.fj/ 

Delegates 

  • Mr Biruk Kebede ABETEW , LWF Ethiopia, Ethiopia 
  • Ms Mami Brunah ARO SANDANIAINA , Malagasy Lutheran Church, Madagascar 
  • Mr Pascal KAMA, The Lutheran Church of Senegal, Senegal 
  • Ms Lily KWAW, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, Ghana 
  • Ms Ditebogo Caroline LEBEA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, South Africa 
  • Mr Khulekani Sizwe MAGWAZA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, South Africa 
  • Ms Mari SALL Mari  SALL, LWF Mauretania, Mauretania   
  • Mr Cedrick YUMBA KITWA , Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo 

News 

Website: http://www.cop22.org/ 

Delegates 

  • Mr Jeff Buhse, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Canada 
  • Ms Pranita Biswasi, Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church, India 
  • Ms Martha Spangler, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, USA 
  • Mr Leiff Andersen, Church of Norway, Norway 
  • Ms Matilda Mattson, Church of Sweden, Sweden 
  • Mr Luis Flores, Lutheran Church of Peru, Peru 
  • Mr Warime Guti, ELC-PNG, Papua-New Guinea 
  • Mr Martin Kopp, Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine, France 

LWF Staff 

  • Ms. Caroline Bader, LWF Youth Secretary, Germany 

News 

Website: http://www.cop20lima.org/ 

Delegates 

  • Ms Pranita Biswasi, Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church-United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India; India 
  • Ms Raquel Kleber, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, Brazil 
  • Mr Martin Kopp, Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine, France 
  • Ms Matilda Mattson, Church of Sweden, Sweden 
  • Ms Rose Stephens-Booker, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, USA 
  • Mr Piotrek Sztwiertnia, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland, Poland 
  • Mr Elija Zina, Lutheran Church in Liberia, LWF Council member, Liberia 

LWF Staff 

  • Ms. Caroline Bader, LWF Youth Secretary, Germany 

News 

Website: http://www.cop19.gov.pl/

Delegates 

  • Nahun STÜRTZ , United Evangelical Lutheran Church, Argentina 
  • Ms Raquel Kleber, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, Brazil 
  • Mr Warime Guti, ELC-PNG, Papua-New Guinea 
  • Ms Anila Esther RAVI SAMSON, United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India, India 
  • Ms Iwona Anna BARANIEC, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland, Poland 
  • Mr Chris Böer,Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schaumburg-Lippe, Germany 
  • Mr Jeff Buhse, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Canada 
  • Mr Leiff Andersen, Church of Norway, Norway 

News 

Website 

Delegates 

  • Ms Eun-Hae KWON, Lutheran Church in Korea, South Korea (LWF Council) 
  • Mr Joakim Book Jönsson, Church of Sweden, Sweden 
  • Ms Raquel Kleber, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, Brazil 
  • Mr Sean Darryn Kuryszczuk, Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa, South Africa 
  • Mr Hierald Edgardo Osorto, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, USA 
  • Mr Mike Lulanga, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi, Malawi 
  • Mr Viktor Liszka,The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary, Hungary 

LWF Staff 

  • Rev Roger Schmidt, LWF Youth Secretary, Germany 

Program  

  • Young people for Ecojustice at the Climate Change Summit in Durban 

Goal 

  • Young people have put Ecojustice to the agenda of their churches and societies 

Website: http://www.cop17durban.com/ 

LWF Assembly and Council Resolutions and Public Statements

2018 LWF Public Statement for  UN climate change conference Bonn (Germany)
2017 Resolution on Climate Change Twelfth LWF Assembly Windhoek (Namibia)
2015 Public Statement on Advocacy and Action for Climate Change LWF Council meeting Geneva (Switzerland)
2014 Public Statement on Climate Justice: “Fasting for the climate - A Lutheran Perspective” LWF Council meeting Medan (Indonesia)
2013 Recall past Public Statement and Resolutions LWF Council meeting Geneva (Switzerland)
2012 Resolution on Rio+20 LWF Council meeting Bogota (Colombia)
2010 Resolution on Climate Change Eleventh LWF Assembly Stuttgart (Germany)
2009 Measures to reiterate the call from the 2008 Council meeting LWF Council meeting Geneva (Switzerland)
2008 Resolution on Climate Change: “Melting snow on Mount Kilimanjaro: a witness of a suffering creation LWF Council meeting Arusha (Tanzania)
2007 Explore possibilities for theological, spiritual, and ethical reflection on urgent environmental challenges LWF Council meeting Geneva (Switzerland)
2004 Statement on LWF’s commitment to preserve the integrity of creation - -
2003 Proposal for LWF to initiate environmental actions relating to climate change and call on all countries to sign the Kyoto Protocol Ninth LWF Assembly Winnipeg (Canada)
1995 Program Committee for World Service informs on development of a policy on environment LWF Council meeting Windhoek (Namibia)
1992 Message to the churches: “Crisis in Environment and Development”following Earth Summit LWF Council meeting Madras (India)
1991 Affirm the participation of the LWF in the preparations for the Brazil 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development LWF Council meeting Chicago (US)
1990 Commitment to support the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil and popular ecological movements in their endeavor to defend the Amazon Eighth LWF Assembly Hong Kong (China)
1984 Statement on caring for God’s endangered creation Seventh LWF Assembly Budapest (Hungary)
1977 Recommendation on Environment and Global Stewardship Sixth LWF Assembly Dar El Salaam (Tanzania)
       

Resources and Publications

  • Creation - Not for Sale ( EN | DE | ES | FR | Estonian )
  • Fasting for Climate Justice - A Lutheran Perspective ( EN | DE | ES | FR )
  • Climate Hero - The Climate Justice Game of the Lutheran World Federation Youth
  • LWF together green and just ( EN )
  • LWF together the Earth needs you ( EN | DE | ES | FR | BA )
  • Good Creation and Climate Change - A resource for reflection and discussion ( EN )
  • Good Creation and Climate Change - Spiritual and Ethical Perspectives ( EN )
  • Climate Change: Facing our Vulnerability ( EN | DE ) -
  • LWI#5 - Special: Climate Change from the Lutheran World Information PDF edition - 2008
  • Youth Toolkit on Climate Change ( EN )
  • Guiding Principles for Sustainable Development ( EN | DE | ES | FR )
  • Environmental Guidelines
  • Concern for Creation - Voices on the Theology of Creation ( EN )
  • The liberation of creation and the myth of unlimited growth ( EN | DE )
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