Categories: Ecological Justice, Just Transition
This past summer, people across Canada breathed wildfire smoke, faced evacuation orders and watched as forests, homes and communities burned. For many, these experiences were not distant news stories but realities that touched their families, neighbours and congregations.
They are not alone. Communities around the world face escalating climate impacts that threaten lives, livelihoods and ecosystems. These harms are felt most acutely by those least responsible for causing climate change, raising profound questions of justice, equity and our responsibility to one another.
In response to this growing climate crisis, faith leaders from churches, religious congregations, theological institutions and faith-based organizations across Canada have released An Economy of Life, a public statement calling for a different path forward.
The statement comes at a moment when governments in Canada are increasingly pursuing faster approvals and weaker oversight for major projects in the name of economic growth, raising concerns about the erosion of environmental protections, meaningful public participation and Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, prior and informed consent. At a time when climate action requires greater accountability and democratic engagement, the statement calls for a renewed commitment to transparency, justice and the common good.
The statement names a truth that is often missing from public conversation: while we are experiencing the consequences of a warming climate, Canada continues to expand fossil fuel production and export capacity. It calls for bold leadership that matches the scale of the crisis, including an end to public support for fossil fuel expansion, investment in renewable energy and climate-resilient communities, support for workers through a just transition and respect for Indigenous rights and sovereignty.
As a signatory, Kairos Canada is proud to stand alongside faith leaders who are speaking with moral clarity at a moment when climate leadership is urgently needed. Grounded in a shared commitment to justice, peace and the integrity of creation, the statement affirms that care for the Earth, concern for future generations and respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples are not optional values. They are essential to building a just and sustainable future.
Coordinated by For the Love of Creation, the statement calls on people of faith and all people of conscience to raise their voices, advocate for policies that serve the common good and strengthen conversations about climate justice in our communities.
As the signatories write:
“We are for an economy of life, one that measures success not only by economic growth, but by whether people and the natural world are flourishing.”
Add your endorsement
We invite individuals, congregations, faith communities, organizations and institutions to endorse An Economy of Life and join a growing movement calling for climate action rooted in justice, hope and care for creation.
By adding your name, you help demonstrate that Canadians are ready for a different path: one that respects Indigenous rights, supports a just transition and prioritizes the wellbeing of people and the planet.
Read the statement: https://fortheloveofcreation.ca/an-economy-of-life/
Endorse the statement: https://forms.gle/onzXiMMwCTGU9SQh9
Together, we can help build an economy that allows both people and the natural world to flourish.
By Beth Lorimer, Ecological Justice Coordinator