The WCRLF welcomes the city’s wise and open minded approach to the energy crisis and, together with our partner, the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute (SAFCEI), collaborates on the protection and conservation of our environment and the integrated energy plan that is being proposed.

 

The earth as a sacred vessel of life is a constant theme that runs through all religious texts. People of faith appreciate that a clean, sustainable environment contributes to the general health of the human family. Industrial pollution and toxicity, the improper disposal of wastewater, poor sanitation, and unsafe electricity connections plague Cape Town’s citizens.

The WCRLF assists in combatting these issues by ensuring effective and open communication between the city and the communities, and by interrogating tangible solutions for the communities to follow and maintain accountability from both sides.

As partners with the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute, we provide the opportunity for briefings for religious leaders which often evolve into informed lobbying and advocacy initiatives -such as the current engagement with the office of the Deputy President about the National Nuclear policy.

Specifically, the activities of this programme include:

• Eco-congregations
• Promotion of Season of Creation
• Mobilization of Faith Communities in ongoing Climate Change Campaign

After a meeting between WCRLF and the former Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, the WCRLF and the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute (SAFCEI) made a joint proposal to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Africa on Creating an African Union dialogue and policy platform with religious leaders and networks concerned with climate change impacts, vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation. We appreciate the important work that SAFCEI facilitates around climate change. We encourage faith communities to join their efforts in making a meaningful change. They have several campaigns running including the “We Have Faith -Act now for Climate Justice Campaign”.