LWF announces decision not to invest in fossil fuels

23 Jun 2015

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LWF Councillors vote to not invest in fossil fuels. Photo: LWF/S. Gallay

Speaking up and acting for climate justice as people of faith

GENEVA, 23 June 2015 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has announced that it shall be the policy of the LWF not to invest in fossil fuels. This action is taken as part of its long-standing commitment to climate justice.

The LWF Council also called on its member churches “not to invest in fossil fuels and to support energy efficiency and renewable energy companies, and to encourage their institutions and individual members to do likewise.”

“Through this decision, we seek coherence and wish to send a strong moral signal that the world needs to operate a transformational change towards a low-carbon economy, phasing out fossil fuels and phasing in renewable energies by the middle of this century,” the LWF Council added.

“We are encouraged that the Council has made the decision not to invest in fossil fuels and this puts action behind our commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2050,” LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge said. “It is an important milestone and we trust as a faith-based community we are making our own contribution within our one human family to address the challenge of climate change affecting our one common household.”

“We acknowledge that some of our member churches, as well as the World Council of Churches, have preceded us in the decision of not investing in fossil fuels companies, and that we are joining a broad global movement which is backed by the UNFCCC,” the LWF Council stated in Geneva. The UNFCCC is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“As a Lutheran Communion, we understand climate change as an issue of justice, peace, care for creation and protection for all peoples everywhere. We raise a special concern for the most vulnerable, in particular the poor, the indigenous people, and the voiceless.”

The LWF Council further emphasized that “we re-commit ourselves and encourage others to commit to a profound change in our lifestyles and in the broader system of production and consumption. We must live as responsible and accountable citizens of this planet.”