Day of Action unites faith communities in response to climate change

The national display of unity was part of A Week of Action, organised by the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change.

As part of the week-long program held from 14 – 24 September, cathedrals and more than 150 diverse places of worship across Australia unveiled banners, uniting in a message for the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. That message was clear: ‘Australia needs an historic investment in clean energy to enable an urgent transition away from fossil fuels’.

Large banners were unveiled at cathedrals in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Newcastle, and Brisbane. Faith leaders led the call for a historic investment in renewables, an end to the coal and gas industry cash splash, changes to environment laws and an urgent fossil fuel phase-out.

In Adelaide, a passionate crowd gathered beneath a banner strung up outside of Pilgrim Uniting Church on Flinders Street. The words ‘Solidarity with Pacific neighbours: Fossil fuel treaty now’ sent a loud, clear message.

Kaurna Elder Uncle John Lochowiak, head of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in Adelaide, launched proceedings with a moving Welcome to Country, followed by a blessing and speech by Pilgrim Uniting Church Minister Reverend John Hughes.

“Why are we participating in this day of action? We are here today as people of many faiths to send a simple message to both the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition. We want you to take much bolder action on climate change, a crisis that has been caused by the ongoing burning of coal, oil and gas. The reasons for this are beyond doubt and becoming more start with every passing week. It’s now spring and all around Australia we are asking ourselves the same question: ‘How bad-a summer will this one be? Will there be floods or droughts this time? Will the bushfires be as bad as they were in 2019, or will we dodge that bullet just one more time? What we might be leaving to the next generation, our children and their children hardly bears thinking about.”
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Rev Hughes acknowledged the plight of our nearest neighbours and those in climate vulnerable communities around the world who stand to lose their lands, livelihoods, sense of security, and deep spiritual relationship with land and ocean.

“It is in a shared spirit of compassion and hunger for justice that we here and across the nation call on our country’s leaders to act,” he said.

Philippa Rowland, Chair of Religions for Peace and president of the Multifaith Association of South Australia, also addressed the crowd.

“Australia is a vast and ancient continent blessed with sun and wind, vast forests and underground aquifers that feed precious springs in a dry land,” Mrs Rowland said. “Yet, like the rest of our suffering world, we are now living through the long-predicted increased frequency and intensity of extreme climatic change…We cannot afford to poison our world further with greenhouse gases and nuclear waste.”

Mrs Rowland said she wakes every day with a prayer in her heart and on my lips.

“May all livings beings be happy, free from pain and suffering,” she said. “Yet all around us countless beings, humans, plants, bees, birds of the air and forest, creatures of the sea, lake and stream are suffering every day as we ignore the evidence of climate change. Their plight gets worse as our common home, Mother Earth struggles under the burden of the greenhouse gases driving climate change.”

Across the nation, a video statement addressing the leaders of both major parties featured nine senior faith leaders outlining a list of policies requested by faith communities.

The Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, Jeremy Greaves wants an end to taxpayer hand-outs to fossil fuel companies.

“We must stop giving around $11 billion of public money annually to the coal and gas industries,” Archbishop 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. Let’s do this in a way that leaves no one behind.”

Mohamed Mohideen, vice-president of the Islamic Council of Victoria, also spoke out.

“The biggest, most urgent environmental threat we face is climate change. It is only right that our key environmental laws have protection of the climate right at their heart,” he said.

There was also a call for an urgent phase out of fossil fuels.

“We need you to let the country know when you will get the job done,” said Reverend Mata Havea Hiliau, Uniting Church Moderator NSW and ACT. “We need a date. We need to know when you will stop allowing exports of coal and gas.”

Bishop Hans Christiansen from the Anglican Archdiocese of Perth also voiced concerns.

“Scientists tell us we cannot afford any more coal and gas projects – anywhere,” he said. “So, we’re calling on both leaders to stop allowing new gas fields – especially those looking beyond 2050. The situation is far too urgent for that. Gas is not the answer.”

There was also a special message directed at Liberal Leader Peter Dutton: ‘nuclear is not the answer’.

“Nuclear would cause dangerous delays when we’re in an urgent crisis, leading us to use a lot more gas in the meantime. That would mean billions of tonnes more climate pollution,” said Reverend Charissa Suli, president of the Uniting Church in Australia.

“This means more people suffering in heat waves, floods and droughts. People on low-lying islands – like my family members in the Pacific – are at great risk of seeing their homes go underwater,” added Rev Havea Hilliau. “We need to reduce climate pollution right now, not later.”
Justice was another key theme.

“We need both main parties to fully respect First Nations peoples’ rights to protect their Country from coal and gas projects,” said Aboriginal Wakka Wakka Christian leader, Brooke Prentis.

“That means amending the Native Title Act to remove flaws that favour mining interests over the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We must listen to and be led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for Creation and Climate Justice.”

Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black, from the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors said faith communities are united in these issues. “As we head into election season, it’s time for our political leaders to unite too,” he said. “Protecting the climate is an issue that should be above politics. Whoever wins, the climate should be a top priority. It is a sacred responsibility for our generation towards generations to come.”

Back in Adelaide, Mrs Rowland closed the event with a message of positivity.

“Hope remains,” she said. “May our prayers help Australia navigate a path to a safe climate future for all.”

The ARRCC national climate conference will be held on the weekend of 4 – 6 October, with the theme ‘Earth Wisdom – Hope in Action’.

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