Largest German Protestant state church body calls on members to join climate strike
Clean Energy Wire
The Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover – Germany's largest Protestant state church body – has called on its employees and members to join the planned global climate strike on 20 September. "It's an important signal that as many Christians as possible set out to support this cause," said state bishop Ralf Meister. He said he saw churches as a partner of the Fridays for Future student protest movement. Employees of the regional church office in Hanover and other church institutions will be released from work for climate action events in the morning of 20 September.
The Fridays for Future student movement is calling for a global climate strike on 20 September and plans protests in more than 300 German towns and cities. Many NGOs, scientists and other groups, such as German service sector labour union Verdi, have also announced they will support the strike. It takes place on a decisive day for Germany’s climate policy - Chancellor Angela Merkel’s so-called climate cabinet convenes that day to take far-reaching policy decisions.