Interfaith Voices Uniting for Climate Justice
On 20th September 2025, Nairobi was transformed into a hub of hope and solidarity during the Draw the Line People’s Carnival and Fair. This vibrant, multicultural, and interfaith gathering brought together diverse communities, organizations, and faith traditions in a united call for climate justice and human dignity.
The celebration crowned two powerful days of interfaith engagement, beginning with the Interfaith Youth Forum on Peace and Integral Ecology held on 19th September. This dialogue reminded us that faith traditions share a common responsibility to protect creation, uphold justice, and defend the dignity of all people. The carnival built on that momentum, showing how interfaith action can inspire practical, united responses to the climate crisis.
A Festival of Hope and Action
The carnival was filled with music, cultural expressions, and exhibitions of African-led climate solutions, but it also carried a clear and urgent message: Africa, though least responsible for the climate crisis, is bearing its heaviest burdens. Communities across the continent are facing devastating floods, droughts, cyclones, and heatwaves.
In one strong voice, participants declared:
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- No more fossil fuel colonialism
- No more debt traps
- No more false solutions
- Respect for nature and biodiversity
The Interfaith Call
Faith leaders and youth from various religions stood shoulder-to-shoulder, affirming that climate justice is a moral and spiritual imperative. By joining the Draw the Line Carnival, interfaith communities made it clear that caring for creation is an act of faith, and protecting vulnerable communities is an expression of shared humanity.
The interfaith presence highlighted the conviction that peace, justice, and ecological sustainability are deeply interconnected. When faith actors unite, they amplify the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth, sending a powerful reminder to leaders and policymakers that people of faith will not remain silent in the face of injustice.
A Decade Since the Paris Agreement
Marking ten years since the Paris Agreement, the Draw the Line Carnival served as both a celebration of resilience and a challenge to global leaders : reminding the Global North and polluters to keep their promises, honor their commitments, and place people before profit.
Celebrating 800 Years of the Canticle of the Creatures & 10 Years of Laudato Si’
Draw the Line also provided a unique opportunity to celebrate the Canticle of the Creatures as participants marched joyfully, thanking God for His creation and highlighting the need to care for and respect it. Inspired by Laudato Si’, the encyclical calling all people to ecological action, the carnival became a spiritual and cultural witness to hope.
The Joint Call to Action during the draw the line carnival called for:
- A rapid and just phase-out of fossil fuels
- Cancellation of unjust debts that strangle African economies
- Real climate finance in the form of grants, not loans
- Investment in renewable energy and community-led solutions
The Draw the Line Carnival was more than an event — it was a living testimony of unity across cultures and religions, a symbolic act of hope, and a clear demand for justice. It reminded us that together, across faiths and communities, we can truly draw the line for a future rooted in peace, dignity, and care for our common home.
We are grateful to our partners who contributed to making this event successful
Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Laudato Si’ Movement
KWS – Lang’ata Headquarters
KIUESA
350 Africa
YOUNIB TV
Franciscan Family Association
OXFAM
CAN – Eastern Africa
Harmony Institute
ISKCON Nairobi
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