IN the lead-up to COP30 this year, the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia is involved in a global call for environmental action and advocacy called Lungs of the Earth. Together with other Anglican churches around the world, the initiative invites Anglicans to ‘restore and protect the Lungs of the Earth,’ focusing on three vital ecosystems: Oceans, Forests, and Ice Caps.
The Anglican Communion is a global network of churches present in 165 countries. The Lungs of the Earth initiative will amplify environmental and advocacy messages that Anglicans will be taking to COP30, while also highlighting the work of Anglican environmental activists around the world.
It invites Anglicans to become involved in reforestation initiatives, such as the Communion Forest, to reduce emissions and plastic usage, to advocate for and lobby governments on environmental justice, and to support Anglican environmental networks worldwide.
The advocacy focus on oceans, forests, and ice caps has been developed with Anglican environmental advocates worldwide, particularly indigenous Anglicans. It highlights the wisdom, traditions, and sustainable practices of indigenous communities in caring for the planet.
The earth is struggling to breathe
The Lungs of the Earth—our planet’s most vital ecosystems—are facing unprecedented threats that demand urgent global attention. These irreplaceable systems sustain life by generating oxygen, storing carbon, and supporting biodiversity through oceans, coral reefs, and forests. Meanwhile, ice caps regulate global temperatures by reflecting sunlight and driving ocean currents, helping to slow climate change.
However, mounting environmental damage is putting these critical ecosystems at severe risk, creating cascading effects that threaten not on ly countless species and natural habitats but also the health, security, and survival of human communities worldwide.
In many parts of the world, Anglican churches are responding to these crises on the front lines. For example, the Church of Pakistan (United) provided relief through the Dioceses of Peshawar and Raiwind during the floods of late August, and the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles addressed the impacts of wildfires in January 2025.
Protecting the oceans
Anglican churches around the world are already working to protect the Lungs of the Earth. The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia has consistently called for urgent ocean restoration, emphasising that Pacific futures are inseparable from the health of the seas. Its Climate Change Commissioner, Fe’iloakitau Kaho Tevi, says: “The ocean is not just our highway or our source of food – it is the heart of our identity and our survival… We must end plastic pollution, reject destructive practices, and act with courage to protect the Blue Pacific for generations to come.” Furthermore, it advocates for a fossil-fuel-free Pacific, the protection of at least 30% of the ocean, and a global ban on deep-sea mining.
Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, the Most Reverend Sione Uluilakepa, says: “We are called to actively engage in caring for oceans – to reduce pollution, combat overfishing, protect marine habitats, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Through collective action and collaboration, we can build a sustainable future for oceans and coastal communities, ensuring that they continue to provide essential resources and services for current and future generations.”
Anglicans at COP30
Lungs of the Earth will tie into the advocacy aims of an Anglican delegation attending this year’s COP30, which will take place in Brazil. The chosen city will provide the world with a unique platform to discuss climate solutions firmly rooted in the heart of the Amazon, one of the Lungs of the Earth.
The Most Reverend Marinez Bassotto, Primate of Brazil and Bishop of Amazônia, will lead dialogues around COP30, joined by many other Anglicans and environmental activists from around the world. They will advocate for a nature-first response to climate change, including the protection of marine life, forests, and frozen landscapes, as well as changes in how much we consume and produce.
Martha Jarvis, the Anglican Communion’s Permanent Representative at the United Nation, says: “The UN’s climate change negotiations have delivered change, but not quickly enough. More action is needed, which can feel overwhelming and disheartening given the scale of the environmental crisis.
“The good news is that when we care for creation—recognising that as an expression of justice for our brothers and sisters locally, internationally, and for future generations—we are responding to God’s call on humankind, not only to political processes. We are not alone in our action, because we are joining in with Jesus’s restoration of all things. Lungs of the Earth highlights some of the amazing ways in which Anglican churches are showing that a restored future is possible now, often following the lead of Indigenous Anglicans.
“Together, the worldwide Church’s actions and voice add up, showing that more is possible. I pray it gives your church ideas for action and advocacy, whatever your location or political context.”