Church leaders launch guide to challenge fossil fuel financiers through faith and law
As climate fears mount among children worldwide, the World Council of Churches has released a new handbook to help religious communities pressure financial institutions to move away from fossil fuel investments.
Jenni Doering reports for Living on Earth.
In short:
- The World Council of Churches published “Hope for Children Through Climate Justice,” a legal and ethical guide for churches to hold fossil fuel investors accountable without necessarily going to court.
- The handbook combines legal tools, science, and gospel teachings to help churches in over 120 countries advocate for climate justice rooted in human rights and religious values.
- Rather than litigation, the approach encourages moral pressure and shareholder actions that can compel companies to shift toward renewables, as seen in a successful Australian case.
Key quote:
“This handbook is a source of hope for children. The main goal is really to save children’s lives and to create perspectives for children to project themselves in a beautiful future.”
— Frederique Seidel, senior program lead on children and climate, World Council of Churches
Why this matters:
Studies link climate anxiety in youth with increased depression, insomnia, and a sense of helplessness. The World Health Organization has warned that climate change is the biggest health threat facing humanity. Children, whose bodies and immune systems are still developing, are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, pollution, and climate-related disasters. By grounding advocacy in both scripture and international law, churches can help drive a shift in public accountability and corporate responsibility.
Read more: Christian climate activists aim to bridge faith and environmental action
