A Global Call to Care for Creation

As the world marks World Environment Day 2026, The Salvation Army is joining a growing global conversation about what it means to care for our planet and why people of faith have a vital role to play. 

The signs are impossible to ignore. Longer droughts. More intense floods. Failed harvests. Rising temperatures. Around the world, communities are feeling the effects of a changing climate, often with devastating consequences. Yet those who have contributed least to environmental damage are frequently the ones who suffer most from its effects. 

For Christians, this is not simply an environmental issue. It is a matter of justice, compassion and stewardship. 

World Environment Day 2026 is being marked under the theme  A Global Call for Climate Action. The message is clear: addressing climate change is about more than reducing emissions. It requires us to rethink how we live, consume and relate to the world around us. 

For The Salvation Army, this conversation begins with faith. 

Environmental degradation is recognised as one of the most pressing issues facing the world today, affecting health, livelihoods, housing and opportunity, particularly for vulnerable communities. 

Created to care 

The Salvation Army views environmental stewardship as an entrusted responsibility, rooted in the belief that the care of creation sits firmly in the hands of mankind. Its International Positional Statement on Caring for the Environment states that humanity has been entrusted by God to care for the earth and everything in it. Environmental degradation is recognised as one of the most pressing issues facing the world today, affecting health, livelihoods, housing and opportunity, particularly for vulnerable communities. 

This conviction runs throughout Scripture. From the opening chapters of Genesis to the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Paul, the Bible presents a vision of people living in right relationship with God, one another and the created world. 

Caring for creation, therefore, is not a modern trend or political position. It is an expression of faithful discipleship. 

Around the world, The Salvation Army is helping communities adapt, thrive and build a more sustainable future. 

From theology to action 

Across the world, Salvationists (Salvation Army members) are turning belief into action. 

In Australia, The Salvation Army has emphasised ‘creation care’ as an expression of Christian discipleship and has actively encouraged churches and communities to consider the environmental impact of their activities while advocating for stewardship of natural resources. In particular, a long-term partnership with AGL to install solar energy systems across Salvation Army sites throughout the country is in place. The program began in 2021 and aims to equip more than 850 Salvation Army properties with solar power.  

In Zimbabwe, rural communities are learning climate-adaptation techniques through centres of excellence that share sustainable approaches to farming and natural resource management. 

In Angola, preparedness training is helping communities better respond to droughts and floods, with local teams developing disaster-management plans that can save lives when extreme weather strikes. 

In Uganda, programmes are strengthening resilience by improving access to economic opportunities, water and sanitation while supporting environmental protection. 

Meanwhile in Zambia, hundreds of small-scale farmers are being supported with climate-resilient agricultural practices designed to improve food security and livelihoods. 

These initiatives may look different, but they share a common goal: helping communities adapt, thrive and build a more sustainable future. 

No single action will solve the problem. But millions of actions, taken together, can make a significant difference. 

At The International Salvation Army headquarters, great efforts are being invested to create a more energy-efficient working environment.

A shared responsibility 

While climate change is a global challenge, meaningful action often begins locally. At The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London, efforts are underway to reduce environmental impacts through changes to energy use, waste management and travel. Improvements in recycling systems, investment in energy-efficiency measures and long-term carbon reduction targets are all part of a wider commitment to responsible environmental stewardship. 

The changes may seem small compared with the scale of the global climate challenge, but they reflect an important principle: every organisation, community and individual has a role to play. 

No single action will solve the problem. But millions of actions, taken together, can make a significant difference. 

A global call for climate action is, ultimately, a call to partnership; neighbours helping neighbours, communities supporting one another and people of faith living out their responsibility to care for God’s creation. 

Hope for the future 

Environmental discussions can sometimes feel overwhelming. The challenges are real, and progress can appear slow. 

Yet there are also reasons for hope. Around the world, communities are innovating, adapting and finding new ways to care for the places they call home. Technology is advancing and awareness is growing. Partnerships are forming across sectors, cultures and faith traditions. 

The Salvation Army believes that lasting change happens when people work together. A global call for climate action is, ultimately, a call to partnership; neighbours helping neighbours, communities supporting one another and people of faith living out their responsibility to care for God’s creation. 

The future of our planet will not be shaped by a handful of grand gestures, but by countless daily decisions made by ordinary people. The question for each of us is simple: what part will we play? 

As we mark World Environment Day, perhaps that is the most important call of all. 

The Salvation Army’s Looking after the environment exhibition is running in Cafe 101 until 12 June on the lower ground floor of The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 4EH, UK.