As the world gathers in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025 for the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), the call for faithful witnesses could not be louder. This year marks ten years since the Paris Agreement, and yet creation continues to groan under the weight of pollution, inequality, and inaction (Romans 8.22). 

For us as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA), and particularly through Green ELCSA, COP30 is not just another international meeting. It is a moment of truth, to affirm that caring for creation is part of our gospel mandate, and that our faith must find expression in climate and energy justice. 

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) will once again raise a prophetic voice for justice at COP30, representing churches and all people of faith. Its delegation of around 50 members, both on-site and online, many of them youth, will be championing inclusive, justice-driven, and faith-rooted climate action grounded in lived experience and global collaboration. These efforts remind us that climate negotiations are not only technical but also moral and spiritual. They concern lives, livelihoods, and the integrity of God’s creation.

As Green ELCSA, we will be closely following the negotiations, amplifying the voices and messages of the LWF delegation and other sister organizations with whom we share common goals, and encouraging prayer and reflection across our congregations. We invite every member, parish, and circuit to join in this journey, to learn, to pray, and to act for climate justice. 

Let us take this moment to renew our commitment to: 

• Educate and empower our youth for ecological discipleship,

• Advocate for a just transition that puts people and the planet first, and 

• Live sustainably in our homes, churches, and communities.

As negotiations unfold in Belém, a city nestled in the heart of the Amazon, one of the planet’s greatest lungs, may we remember that creation care is not optional; it is discipleship - “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation” (Mark 16:15). We pray for justice, courage, and faithful action. COP30 must be a turning point, from promises to real progress.