Faith and Science Collaborate to Tackle Land, Water, and Food Challenges

A groundbreaking seminar organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the India Peace Center brought together faith leaders, scientists, and civil society representatives to address the interconnected crises of land, water, and food. Held on April 16, 2025, at the National Council of Churches in India, Nagpur, the event marked the launch of a series of webinars aimed at promoting climate justice through a nexus approach.  

 

The seminar emphasized the need to address land, water, and food systems collectively rather than in isolation. Rev. Dr. Asir Ebenezer, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in India, highlighted the importance of recognizing the intrinsic connections between these systems to create effective climate solutions.  

 

Participants included experts like Dr. Atya Kapley, former Chief Scientist of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, who called for a culture of environmental stewardship, and Dr. Suma Josson, an Indian-American journalist and filmmaker, who presented a documentary on Indigenous communities affected by mining operations. Case studies on land degradation, water contamination, and food security were shared by Aradhana Upadhyay, Director of the Church of North India Social Service Institute.  

 

The interfaith dimension of the seminar was reinforced by Tejinder Singh Rawal, representing the Sikh religion, who discussed water challenges in the Vidarbha region. The event concluded with a commitment to launch webinars in May and June to further explore the nexus approach and reach a wider audience.  

 

Source: World Council of Churches, India Peace Center