By: Michael Crooks
Leaders and followers of religions across Australia have come together for the common cause of saving a warming planet.
The Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC), which consists of representatives from multiple religions, is sending a message to the major political parties to act now on climate change.
On Tuesday morning, at cathedrals and other places of worship across the nation, ARRCC unveiled banners calling for the “rapid transition” from coal and gas to clean energy in what was the beginning of a “week of action”.
“We need a date,” said Uniting Church’s Reverend Mata Havea Hiliau in a message to both the government and opposition.
“And we need to know when you will stop allowing exports of coal and gas.”
The Mission
For 10 days from September 14, ARRCC is asking “people of all faiths” to call for bolder action, with one religious leader echoing the common scientific warnings of heat waves, floods and droughts should the world continue on its present fossil fuel-burning course.
Faiths involved in the week of action include Christian (Anglican, Catholic, Uniting and more), Hindu, Buddhism, Islam and Jewish.
“The biggest, most urgent environmental threat we face is climate change,” said Mohamed Mohideen, the Vice-President of the Islamic Council of Victoria.
“It is only right that our key environmental laws have protection of the climate right at their heart.”
New Direction
The message being to sent to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Coalition leader Peter Dutton includes a demand for a fossil fuel “phase-out” and more investment in renewables.
“We must stop giving around $11 billion of public money annually to the coal and gas industries,” the Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane Jeremy Greaves said.
“They have enough of their own. There is a cost-of-living crisis.
“We’re asking the Prime Minister to put that instead into his new plan for clean sources of energy and creating good jobs.”
Action List
ARRCC’s “humble demands” of the major political parties include:
- To stop approving new coal and gas projects;
- End public subsidies for coal and gas projects;
- Fully respect First Nations peoples’ rights to protect Country;
- Re-start contributions to the United Nations Green Climate Fund;
- Assists extractive industry workers to prosper through jobs in sustainable industries;
- Actively participates in creating and endorses a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Bishop Hans Christiansen, from the Anglican Archdiocese of Perth, told the government and opposition that scientists have long been warning of the threat coal and gas pose to the climate.
“So we’re calling on both leaders to stop allowing new gas fields – especially those looking beyond 2050,” he said.
“The situation is far too urgent for that. Gas is not the answer.”
No Fission
The group also has a message for opposition leader Peter Dutton – nuclear is not the answer.
Earlier this year, Mr Dutton and the Coalition flagged a nuclear scheme in Australia, involving power plants at several sites around the country.
Reverend Charissa Suli, who is the president of the Uniting Church in Australia, warned the Coalition to stay away from the controversial energy source, which does not produce dangerous levels of greenhouse gases, but does leave behind radioactive waste.
“Nuclear would cause dangerous delays when we’re in an urgent crisis, leading us to use a lot more gas in the meantime,” said Rev Suli, of the lengthy time needed to manufacture nuclear power plants.
“That would mean billions of tonnes more climate pollution.”
“Time to Unite”
Meanwhile, Aboriginal Christian Leader Brooke Prentis said that political parties should take into consideration the rights of First Nations peoples to protect their land.
“That means amending the Native Title Act to remove flaws that favour mining interests over the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” said Ms Prentis.
And Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black, from the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors, said that all faith communities in Australian are united in this drive for urgent action.
“As we head into election season, it’s time for our political leaders to unite too,” Rabbi Keren-Black said.
“Protecting the climate is an issue that should be above politics. It is a sacred responsibility for our generation towards generations to come.”
Letter to the PM
ARRCC has also penned an open letter to Mr Albanese, in which they point out that Australia profits from exports such as coal and gas, which is driving the environmental crisis.
“The current level of warming is not safe,” the letter reads.
“This moment in history calls for an urgent, courageous, visionary response, especially from those in power.
“Australia’s leadership in this response … is vital for the vulnerable communities and ecosystems who depend on it.”
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Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.