Last Friday, 15 March 2019, more than an estimated one million students worldwide protested government inaction on climate change. Most simply skipped school, but in over 125 countries, hundreds of thousands of students took to the streets to voice concern about their future. They were inspired by the actions of 16-year old Greta Thunberg, now nominated for a Nobel Prize.
Something else that happened last week hits even closer to home. The Uniting Church in NSW and ACT Synod issued a statement (through Uniting Financial Services) wherein it “would not permit its land to be used in the development of a coal-fired power station and would not sell the land to a party who would intend to use it as part of any such development.”
This statement referred to the controversial Cessnock coal-fired power station proposal for the Hunter Economic Zone site, where the Uniting Church owns a piece of land. It aligns perfectly with the Uniting Church 2014 resolution to stop all fossil fuel investments. It is also in line with the UCA’s first public statement in 1977 where the church announced: “we are concerned with the basic human rights of future generations and will urge the wise use of energy, the protection of the environment and the replenishment of the earth’s resources for their use and enjoyment.”
As Christians, we believe that God calls us into a special relationship with Creation. We were given custodianship of Earth and all its resources, to be used responsibly to the benefit of all of Creation, not just ourselves. It is a relationship of renewal and reconciliation, not destruction.
But are we really doing that? Is banning single-use plastics in our facilities and at our events enough? What more can we do?
Marguerite Marshall was trained by Al Gore as a Climate Reality Project Leader. As a journalist and Uniting Church member, she investigated eight questions (and their answers) that may influence the way we think about climate change issues.
Question 1: Can Christians make a difference?
According to the 2016 census, 52.1% of Australians identify with being Christian. So yes, if we all speak with one voice, more than half our population should make a significant impact.
Question 2: Is Australia too small to make a difference?
A report published in the world's leading multidisciplinary science journal ‘Nature’ found that, to prevent our climate from warming more than the catastrophic 2°C, Australia needs to leave 90% of its fossil fuels unmined (along with similar percentages for the USA, Africa, Canada, the Arctic and the ex-Soviet Republics). Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter. When we build coal mines such as the proposed Adani mine in Queensland, which would include a rail link and port expansion, we would attract other coal mining investments in the area.
Question 3: Won’t major polluters such as China and the USA prevent the achievement of a safe climate?
Despite recent fluctuations, scientists such as Professor Phillip Stalley of DePaul University, Chicago, are hopeful that China will meet its Paris target to cap carbon emissions by 2030. China lowered its carbon emissions by more than 55% between 1990 and 2015, but its drive for economic growth increased them in 2017 and 2018. Hopefully, as China moves its economy from manufacturing to more consumption and services, it will require less energy. And although US President Donald Trump plans to pull out of the world Paris agreement in 2020, all 50 states are working on reducing carbon emissions.
Question 4: Would using renewable energy lose jobs?
Experts at Beyond Zero Emissions, an Australian-based, not-for-profit climate change solutions think-tank, say that renewable energy would provide more jobs than the fossil fuel industry. To change, we need an orderly transition, which the government should facilitate.
Question 5: Can we afford to change to renewable energy?
New renewable energy is now the same cost or cheaper than existing black coal power stations, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. What is more, whatever the cost of transition may be, it would be cheaper than the costs incurred from the results of chaotic climate change. These include health risks from excessive heat and pollution, damaged infrastructure due to catastrophic weather events such as floods, and an increase in droughts that would reduce food production resulting in more refugees and poverty.
Question 6: How can the sun and wind provide all our energy when it’s not sunny or windy?
Scientists (including those at the award winning think tank Beyond Zero Emissions) have demonstrated how renewable energy can be sent to wherever needed via strengthened grids. Batteries, pumped hydro and solar thermal towers such as that being built in Port Augusta, can store solar energy to enable energy supply when needed.
Question 7: Is it too late to act?
We only have until 2030 to cap a climate temperature rise to 1.5°C, warns the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Beyond this even half a degree would significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. That leaves us with 11 years to implement drastic change. But it can be done. Think of how the US mobilised and changed their economy during the Second World War to quickly become a larger war economy than their enemy. Or, for that matter, how West Germany recovered from its non-existent economy after the Second World War to swiftly become a world economic powerhouse.
Question 8: What can we, as individuals, do right now to implement change?
Right now we have a great opportunity to influence our politicians. There is an election coming up soon and the most effective way to make our politicians listen is to visit them personally. The more people do so, the more our collective voice will be heard. We can also install solar panels, pay for green energy via our electricity retailer, use public transport rather than cars, and divest in shares from fossil fuels companies and invest in renewables.
The June/July edition of New Times will focus on the environment. If your congregation or faith community is going that extra mile to become better custodians of Earth, please get in contact with us: Turn on Javascript!
Whilst the situation with the spread of COVID-19 is concerning, there are simple and sensible actions we can take to help reduce the spread and help allay fears in our community. This is also an opportunity to take a fresh look at some of our practices and consider if there are more suitable alternatives that will help to maintain a safe church.
Assembly General Secretary Colleen Geyer has delivered a wide-ranging reflection on the future of the Church at the Uniting Leadership and Theology Symposium in Adelaide. In a speech traversing sustainability, diversity, structure and identity Colleen asks can we as the Uniting Church be bold enough to listen to our history, step away from what has always been, be open to where God is leading us and step aside for the leaders who'll take us there?
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