Christian cross standing under purple and blue evening sky.

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.

www.loe.org

Church leaders launch guide to challenge fossil fuel financiers through faith and law

Trump White House tells agencies to ignore climate costs when writing rules

Trump’s energy strategy backfires as oil falters and renewables stall

Political promises collide with a century-old grid as the Pacific Northwest struggles to build green energy

Massachusetts battery startup takes major step toward making gas cars obsolete

Intensive farming depletes European and UK soils, weakening climate defenses

Shell plastic plant's nighttime flaring alarms Pennsylvania residents and draws regulatory scrutiny

Trump administration kills $18 million composting grant, stalling Rhode Island food waste initiative

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.