Despite the hype of a global resolve at the Copenhagen climate change negotiations, the result is viewed by the Uniting Church as disappointing.
The final agreement, which is known as the Copenhagen Accord, supports keeping the global average temperature increase below 2oC, but has failed to make any commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the UC is continuing to push the Australian Government to take greater action and to increase its greenhouse gas reduction target.
In November, Uniting, Catholic, Anglican and Baptist churches and the Salvation Army in the Coburg, Brunswick area collectively petitioned the government to take greater action on climate change.
Kelvin Thomson, federal Member of Parliament for Melbourne’s Wills electorate, accepted the 850-strong signature petition but said there was little Australia could do if larger, developing countries didn’t agree to emission reduction targets.
Although he said that sustainability starts at home, he admitted Australia was yet to make proficient use of available technologies and increase renewable energy incentives.
“Countries know they need to take action to address climate change, but most countries want others to do as much as possible while they do as little as possible.” said Cath James, UC Victoria and Tasmania Synod environment project officer.
“Australia is a relatively wealthy country so it’s in a position to do more to address climate change than countries like China and India which are still battling with extreme poverty. However, collective action is needed, so everyone has to do their fair share,” she said.
The church also supports the call by Micah Challenge a global campaign of Christians speaking out against poverty and injustice. It says rising sea levels and changing weather conditions are already threatening food supplies and access to safe water, endangering lives, destroying island homes and cultures and displacing some of our poorest global neighbours.
As Crosslight reported in September 2008, low-lying island nations have the most to lose by increasing temperatures and subsequent rises in sea levels.
Tuvalu is one such nation and has affiliated links with the UC. This and other neighbouring island states in the Pacific are the ones at serious risk of losing their countries, livelihoods and identity.
“Already there are an estimated 150,000 extra deaths each year because of climate change, most of them children. Far from making poverty history, climate change threatens to make poverty permanent,” said national coordinator of Micah Challenge Australia, John Beckett.
But the importance of preventing disasters hasn’t just been a reaction to the obvious plight of these countries. The UC has been at work on environmental sustainability at home since the Basis of Union over 32 years ago.
In 1978 the church passed a Synod resolution calling on congregations, presbyteries and households to reduce their energy consumption by 10%.
In addition, there are also resolutions regarding energy efficient construction of new buildings, insulation and solar powered hot water heating. The Synod building itself has also undergone an energy audit and subsequent actions to reduce its energy use.
Uniting Church schools across Victoria and Tasmania have also been teaching students about sustainability models. Acacia College has gone the extra mile by building a near-entirely environmentally friendly school.
The Justice and International Mission unit (JIM) has recently released a second edition of the Energy Audit Handbook to assist congregations to make changes to their energy use.
What else can UC members do in 2010 to help environmental policies?
JIM director Mark Zirnsak said churches in Australia should be supportive of action that will bring to an end the political impasse that currently means no action is being taken.
“This inaction is because those who want no action and those who want high levels of action effectively clash to block a moderate path being taken to curb Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“We need to start on a path to reduce our emissions, and limited action as a starting point needs to be seen to be better than no action at all,” said Mr Zirnsak.
Copies of the Energy Audit Handbook can be obtained through Cath James on (03) 9251 5279.
