Climate Change

The Earth is a sacred trust. We recognize God’s call…to draw on the Earth’s sustenance responsibly, and to care for it that all may benefit equitably now and in the future.

—from One Earth Community (1992)

What’s Happening

A focal point for Climate Justice in Fall 2023 is the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28). From November 30–December 12, 2023, COP28 will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Those least responsible for the carbon emissions that cause climate change are the ones being most impacted: young people, Indigenous communities, and communities in the Global South. These are the ones who need to be driving the change that’s needed. The United Church of Canada young adult delegation that is attending COP28 virtually, with participation from Canada and Zambia, is eager to take up this challenge.

For greater impact, the United Church is working with fellow members of the national faith-based climate effort in Canada, COP28 – Unite. Act. Deliver. – For the Love of Creation. Let’s raise our spirited voices with faith and civil society efforts across the globe to push leaders at COP28 to unite, act, and deliver on commitments in the Paris Agreement and support calls for a Loss and Damage fund with new money in the form of grants.

All COP28-related posts will appear in the news feed at the bottom of this page. You can also follow #UCCanCOP28 to learn more.

What You Can Do

1. Participate in COP28 education, theological reflection, and advocacy efforts of the National Ecumenical For the Love of Creation campaign for Climate Justice
2. Celebrate Creation in worship, while committing to action for its well-being, with the use of Climate Change Worship resources.
3. Reduce the environmental impact of your faith community's buildings. Faithful Footprints offers United Church congregations inspiration, tools, and grants to help the church and its communities of faith live our climate commitments.
4. Learn more about the role people of faith play in climate justice:
   • Read The United Church of Canada’s second sustainability report (2023), “Deepening Climate Integrity,” for examples of how it is putting its house in order, raising its spirited voices, and reconnecting with the earth, featuring examples from across the country.
   • Join the United Church e-mail network Concerned for Climate Justice.
   • Attend a United Church camp that offers programming and initiatives related to the environment and climate change (more information available under Downloads, below).
   • Research policy decisions related to the environment and ecology on United Church Commons.
   • View Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home (2015).
   • Read KAIROS Canada’s backgrounders on key climate justice issues.

Religious leaders in ecumenical celebration for Creation at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, during COP21 climate talks, 2015.

Credit: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/LWF

The Work of Our Networks and Partners

• For the Love of Creation
• Climate Action Network
• Citizens for Public Justice
• KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
• Faithful Footprints
• United Church Camps
• Faith & the Common Good

For more information, contact