12th Assembly of ECEN, Katowice (Poland), 6 – 10 October 2018

Climate change has become one of the defining challenges of the early decades of 21st century. We are much more aware than any time before of its unprecedented speed, as well as far reaching impacts. Paris climate agreement, as well as efforts of the UN to pursue Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are increasingly important. European Union and governments of the European states play in the process their respective parts. Still, the feeling of urgency to address the matter seems to be decreasing. On the top of it, climate disruption is only a part of a broader pattern of global upheaval, which also includes the extinction of species, pervasive pollution and ecosystem transformation.

Responding to this challenge is beyond efforts of political leadership. Addressing climate change and environmental degradation has an ethical dimension. The roles individual and communities in raising the questions of life style and consumption are closely related to broader questions of how we produce material means and overall questions for the future. Churches and faith communities have been increasingly aware of this and many of them are actively involved in this work. In their approach they unite an emphasis on spiritual and ethical aspects with diverse practical activities, which faith communities are often engaged in at grassroots levels in communities across the continent.

The upcoming Assembly will be an opportunity to address the challenge of climate change and highlight the relationship of climate disruption, pollution and ecosystem transformation with economic activities and social agendas. The Assembly will focus on the role of churches in addressing and responding to these challenges.

You are invited to attend!