A liberal Christian organization is mobilizing legal action against the fossil fuel industry, urging believers to sue financial institutions over their involvement in climate change. The World Council of Churches (WCC), representing over 352 churches globally, released a handbook in March advocating for strategic lawsuits to combat “climate disinformation” and hold financiers accountable.
The handbook, titled Hope for Children Through Climate Justice: Legal Tools to Hold Financiers Accountable, suggests that advocacy alone is insufficient to address the climate crisis. It emphasizes the need for legal engagement as a moral imperative to safeguard human lives and uphold justice. The guide targets a broad range of financial entities, including commercial and investment banks, asset managers, pension funds, insurers, credit rating agencies, central banks, financial regulators, private equity and venture capital firms, large institutional investors, and sovereign wealth funds.
One notable strategy proposed is the use of children as the face of these lawsuits, aiming to disrupt numerous fossil fuel firms by reducing finance flows to them. The handbook argues that such litigation can serve as a “circuit breaker,” achieving binding outcomes not currently realized through voluntary emission reduction initiatives.
The WCC has also called on the International Criminal Court to consider legal reforms addressing the impunity surrounding climate disinformation. The organization links the spread of climate disinformation directly to the ongoing financing of fossil fuels.
Critics argue that the WCC’s approach politicizes faith and weaponizes the legal system against industries that power modern life. Jason Isaac, CEO of the American Energy Institute, stated that the handbook encourages using Christianity for political purposes, diverting from its core teachings.
Furthermore, the WCC’s stance on other issues has raised concerns among conservative Christians. The organization has taken less definitive positions on topics such as abortion and sexuality, with resources suggesting support for access to contraception and safe abortions, as well as the inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in ministry roles. Financially, the WCC receives significant funding from government sources, including over $238,000 from the European Commission and additional funds from the German Federal Foreign Office and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
