Following an old tradition, the climate pilgrims will start on their long journey walking through Germany and Europe. They will set a strong symbol for more climate protection and more climate justice, as the imminent climate catastrophe challenges the global community. The only way to prevent/stop this is through global and international cooperation. Climate justice will and must play a central role in this. Pope Francis' environmental encyclical Laudato si` impressively shows how the social and ecological questions are interrelated and that they must be considered and solved together. The Catholic and Evangelical church in Germany and their aid organisations significantly contribute to this through their global networks and the support of many committed Christians. Against this backdrop, the first Ecumenical Pilgrimage for Climate Justice was launched with the World Climate Conference in Paris in 2015. In 2021, it will take place for the fifth time.
It starts on 14 August 2021 in Zielona Góra (Poland) under the claim "We can do it! Ecumenical Pilgrimage for Climate Justice". The emphasis on this pilgrimage lies on mobility and agriculture. The Climate Pilgrimage 2021 connects the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2018 (Katowice/Poland) with the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021 (Glasgow/Scotland). The climate pilgrims will walk on their way from Poland through Germany, the Netherlands and England to Scotland. They will pass through the following cities, among others: Zielona Góra - Forst (Lausitz) – Cottbus – Leipzig – Halle (Saale) – Göttingen – Detmold – Bielefeld – Münster – Enschede – Amersfoort – IJmuiden – Newcastleupon-Tyne – Edinburgh - Glasgow. On 29 October 2021, they will reach Glasgow after 77 stages and 1,450 kilometres. There are pilgrims from Germany who will walk all the way from Poland to Glasgow. They cross the Channel by ferry.
Individuals, school classes or groups join them and further highlight the importance of their wish for greater climate protection and climate justice. Everyone interested is invited to walk with them, even if it is only a small leg of the route. The Covid-19 protective measures, which apply locally, are of course considered. The 5th Ecumenical Pilgrimage for Climate Justice is an interregional project from German aid organisations (Bread for the World, Misereor, Missio, Renovabis, Adveniat, Sternsinger), catholic dioceses and evangelical national churches in Germany. It passes through good and bad examples of climate protection. There will be encounters and themed events on site and in the parishes along the way. The 5th Ecumenical Pilgrimage for Climate Justice is under the patronage of
• Prof. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, founder and former director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
• Umweltbischof Rolf Lohmann, responsible for environmental and climate issues in the German Bishops' Conference and auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Münster
• Annette Kurschus, Deputy Chairwoman of the Evangelical Church in Germany and Präses of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia
• Wolfgang Klose, Vice President of the Central Committee of German Catholics Registration and more information concerning the 5th Ecumenical Pilgrimage for Climate Justice can be found here: www.klimapilgern.de, on Facebook, Instagram and on our YouTube channel `Geht doch! – Klimapilgern‘.
Registration and more information concerning the 5th Ecumenical Pilgrimage for Climate Justice can be found here: www.klimapilgern.de, on Facebook, Instagram and on our YouTube channel `Geht doch! – Klimapilgern‘.
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