Non-economic climate losses spotlighted by World Council of Churches at COP29

The first event, “Beyond Material Loss: Exploring Non-Economic Impacts of Climate Change Through Faith-Based Perspectives,” featured panelists Ramón Pichs, vice chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Brother Rodrigo Péret of Franciscans International, and Candice Dangilan, a youth representative from the Philippines.

Pichs highlighted the need to incorporate non-economic losses into global climate assessments: “The IPCC recognizes the importance of addressing these impacts, which include cultural and spiritual dimensions often overlooked in policy frameworks.”

Brother Péret emphasized the systemic changes required to achieve meaningful climate justice: “Faith-based organizations and grassroots movements must challenge the current systems driving environmental degradation. We need solutions that respect the intrinsic value of nature and humanity beyond economic metrics.”

The second event, “Exploring Non-Economic Impacts of Climate Change: Faith-Based Insights on Loss and Damage,” featured Bishop Julio Murray of the Anglican Church in Panama, Maru Micah Maua of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, Wara Iris Gondori, an Indigenous leader from Bolivia’s Aymara community, Sister Jayanti Kirpalani from Brahma Kumaris, and Stephanie Stevens from Vanuatu.

Stevens described her community’s irreplaceable losses: “Rising seas are not just eroding our land—they are taking our burial sites, community spaces, and histories. These losses cannot be measured in monetary terms.”

Bishop Murray underscored the role of faith communities in supporting affected populations: “Faith organizations witness and address the losses that others overlook—loss of identity, hope, and connection. These impacts require a response that prioritizes human dignity and community resilience.”

Both events called for COP29 negotiators to formally include non-economic losses within global climate policies, such as the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage. Speakers urged more significant involvement of faith communities, Indigenous leaders, and youth in shaping these policies to ensure that human-centered impacts are fully recognized.

During COP29, the World Council of Churches (WCC) co-hosts the side event ‘Beyond Material Loss – Exploring Non-Economic Impacts of Climate Change Through Faith-Based Perspectives.’ Faith leaders and delegates gather to discuss how climate change affects not just the environment but also cultural heritage, spiritual well-being, and the identity of communities. The event underscored incorporating faith-based insights into climate action to address these profound non-economic losses. Photo: Valter Hugo Muniz/WCC