Church leaders from across the Pacific yesterday launched the Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action in Togoru, Navua, choosing a village visibly being reshaped by the sea to underscore the human scale of the crisis. The ceremony, held as part of the Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting organised by the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), combined prayers and hymns with an urgent appeal for sustained, faith-based mobilisation to support frontline communities.
Togoru has experienced dramatic coastal retreat in recent years, with organisers saying the sea is eating as much as 1.5 metres of land annually. That erosion has already submerged homes, plantations and burial grounds, forcing local authorities and families to consider relocation plans. PCC general secretary James Bhagwan said holding the launch in Togoru was deliberate. “We are gathered here because this is one of the most vulnerable communities in Fiji in the context of climate change,” he said, noting how rapidly the coastline has changed.
World Council of Churches general secretary Jerry Pillay, who joined delegates on the ground, described the visit as deeply meaningful. “It is so meaningful to be with people, to pray with them, to walk with them, to listen to them, and to know how they are being affected by the climate catastrophe,” he said, linking pastoral witness with advocacy for structural change.
Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Sivendra Michael used the platform to stress that Togoru’s plight is not isolated. “The reality is already being lived across Fiji and the Pacific,” Michael said, adding that climate impacts are affecting food systems, water sources, coastlines and livelihoods. His remarks framed the church initiative as complementary to governmental and civil society efforts to respond to immediate losses and long-term adaptation needs.
The declaration that launched the decade urged churches and communities to “bring your dreams, your voice, and your actions to bear on this groaning world.” Organisers said the ten-year initiative is designed to mobilise churches across the region to drive faith-based climate action, amplify the concerns of vulnerable communities, and provide both spiritual and practical support as environmental change accelerates.
The Togoru event is the latest development in a growing regional focus on climate justice that has seen legal, political and civil society avenues debated and pursued in recent years. By centring the launch in a community already facing relocation and loss, PCC leaders signalled a shift toward sustained grassroots engagement by faith institutions, aiming to translate prayerful solidarity into long-term advocacy and community-led adaptation measures.
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