Earth Day: Continuing to care for creation and advocate for climate justice
Ethiopia: Ensuring food security through training in agricultural methods suitable for a changing climate. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert.
Call to increased efforts to support the most vulnerable and strive for sustainability
(LWI) – “Every year, Earth Day reminds us of the fact that humanity only has one earth to support itself,” says Elena Cedillo, Program Executive for Climate Justice at The Lutheran World Federation (LWF). “We need to care for and protect our common home, the environment, and the diversity of the ecosystems.”
“Human beings are part of God’s creation,” underlines Rev. Dr. Chad Rimmer, LWF’s Program Executive for Identity, Communion and Formation. “As people of faith, we have an inherent responsibility and vocation to care for this gift and the web of life on the Earth.”
The past year has shown how closely the wellbeing of humans is linked to the health of the planet. “The current COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted people’s daily lives worldwide and has jeopardized many livelihoods, particularly of the most vulnerable,” says Cedillo. Often these people are also disproportionately affected by climate change and ecological degradation.
“It is essential to accelerate efforts for a sustainable and resilient society and economy that protect the environment as the foundations for life,” Cedillo adds. “The LWF continues to call for urgent action by all nations to address the climate crisis through reducing greenhouse gases and limiting global warming to the 1.5 degrees Celsius they committed to in the Paris Agreement.”
The LWF has advocated for the care of creation and climate justice since the Seventies. At the Sixth Assembly in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, the “Recommendation on Environment and Global Stewardship” was adopted, initiating the communion of Lutheran churches’ efforts in this field.
By LWF/A.Weyermüller
