During this Season of Creation, as we reflect on the theme “A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos of God,” we remember that for an increasing number of people, the failure to safeguard and care for all of creation leads to a loss of home.

When we listen to the experiences of people who have migrated or been displaced due to the effects of extreme weather events or environmental degradation, it is clear that the impacts of climate change are not simply economic. While the loss of land and loss of resources are important, there are also impacts that are more difficult to quantify. These impacts often go unnoticed by the outside world, such as the loss of traditional ways of living, cultural heritage, and biodiversity. These include the ability to live on ancestral land; guardianship of sacred sites; coexistence with traditional animals, plants, and herbs; the practice of traditional medicine, folklore, song and dance, and religious rites; and cultural knowledge, including indigenous knowledge and practice.