As major challenges for the global economy are predicted in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, a diverse group of faith institutions is putting the call for a just economic recovery into practice.

Forty-two faith institutions from 14 countries recently announced their divestment from fossil fuels, the largest ever divestment of its kind. It comes from institutions in Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Myanmar, Spain, the UK, and the United States.

In May, a new report from Operation Noah showed that none of the major oil companies are compliant with the Paris agreement targets. The former archbishop of Canterbury, the Rev Dr Rowan Williams, said in response to the report: “The current health crisis has highlighted as never before the need for coherent international action in the face of global threat. Can we learn the lesson and apply it to the global threat of climate change? To do so means taking practical and eff ective steps to reduce our lethal dependence on fossil fuels.”

The multi-faith announcement comes from Methodist, Anglican, Catholic and Buddhist institutions, among others. The group includes the Jesuits in Britain, which divested its £400 million ($517.5 million) equity portfolio from fossil fuels in February 2020.

James Buchanan, Bright Now Campaign Manager at Operation Noah, said: “The decisions we make now will aff ect the future of humanity for thousands of years. These faith institutions are showing strong leadership in response to the climate crisis, and we urge governments around the world to follow their lead in ending support for fossil fuels and investing in the clean technologies of the future.”

Professor Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri, World Council of Churches deputy general secretary, said: “We reiterate the urgent concerns of Christians around the world in relation to climate change and its adverse eff ects on the whole of creation. The moral imperative of fossil fuel divestment and of investing in a low-carbon path to realising economic, social, and ecological wellbeing and sustainability for the whole creation is more urgent than never.” (WCC)