The move of both Queensland State and Australian Federal governments, led by Labor and the Coalition respectively, to foist Adani’s Carmichael coalmine upon us, is a prime example of environmental irresponsibility and economic injustice. The May 8th Four Corners episode, “Power Failure”, amply demonstrated the failure of political leadership across the board to move Australia toward a sustainable future both environmentally and economically.  

MEDIA RELEASE
2 June 2017

Peak Christian body calls for leadership on climate agreement

The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) have called on Prime Minister Turnbull to show leadership in commitment to the global climate agreement, which is our best chance for the stewardship of the world around us.

NCCA President, Bishop Philip Huggins said "this momentous climate deal is bigger than just one country, one person or a handful of climate sceptics. It is about the urgent survival of humanity, the ability for all children to be able to born into and live in a world with clean air and clean water.

Federal government support for the Adani Group’s proposed Carmichael coalmine is the target of an open letter released today, signed by prominent leaders from Australia’s faith communities, including Uniting Church, Buddhists, Quakers and Catholic.

Dear Minister Frydenberg

As leaders in our diverse faith traditions, we feel compelled to challenge those responsible for Australia’s current climate and energy policies. In particular, we declare the proposal to provide public money to fund mining infrastructure in the Galilee Basin to be morally wrong.

A trail-blazing seminar on Islam and Environmental Stewardship: A Call for Action, was held in Brisbane on Sunday, 21st February, 2017.   

This was an initiative of a small group from the Brisbane Muslim community who felt the need to start a conversation—and potential future action—on the view of our faith on issues of climate change that are impacting our environment and the need to highlight our God-given role as stewards on earth. 

Humankind stands at the edge of the abyss and yet we inch forward. Neither government policies nor people’s collective behaviour reflect the real and present danger facing us today. The temperature rise we are witnessing is not the beginning of a gradual, linear increase, but an early stage on what is basically an exponential curve.[i] Furthermore, we know there are tipping points at which abrupt drastic change is precipitated.[ii] We just don’t know how soon those tipping points will be reached.

Please sign here.

Faith-based organisations working on climate change are joining forces to challenge Australia’s weak climate policies. ARRCC is inviting supporters to work with other people of faith in their own electorates to gather signatures, on paper, for a 150-electorate mega-petition. We want the scale and breadth of mainstream faith-based support to be a factor which is impossible to ignore by the federal government, which is conducting a climate policy review later this year. 

Historically, this is make-or-break time for putting some brakes on global warming, so here at ARRCC we’re rolling our sleeves up. Will you join us?

We bring together diverse people of faith to publicly collaborate on climate change as a moral issue, thus challenging the 70% or so of Australians who identify with a spiritual/faith tradition. Imagine if we could catalyse even a minority of this massive constituency to more fully swing behind protecting the earth! This is what we plan to do in 2017, but we can't do it without your help. Please think about making a donation of $50, $100, $250 or whatever you can.

 Are you interested in fossil fuel divestment but unclear on implementation? Your Board is unconvinced? How about an expert Guide which takes you through the whole process?

A joint project of ARRCC and The Climate Institute, the Guide was launched on the same day as the release of the Global Divest Invest Movement 2016 report - December 12, 2016.

14 Nov 2016

Australian faith leaders join growing call for urgent climate action, challenge to sovereign wealth and super funds: sever fossil fuel investments 

Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu among top religious leaders to declare continued use of fossil fuels ethically untenable

Media Release, 11 November, 2016

 Faith Leaders Challenge Sovereign Wealth and Pension Funds: Sever Trillions in Fossil Fuel Investments

Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu among top religious leaders to declare continued use of fossil fuels ethically untenable

Australian faith leaders join call for urgent action 

Sydney, November 11 — Leaders from global faith groups, financial institutions and foundations called on sovereign wealth and superannuation funds to rapidly end trillions in investments related to fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy in line with the Paris Agreement.