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Climate Change

The Justice and International Mission Unit has been working on issues to do with Climate Change, specifically in the area of energy use, since the Uniting Church was formed in 1977.

At the core of the Uniting Church's position is a belief that Christian theology implies respect for all of God's creation (including future generations) and a recognition of its intrinsic value. The Uniting Church also believes it is called to advocate on behalf of the poor and most vulnerable members of the global community. Because climate change is predicted to impact on the world's poorest people first, the Uniting Church acknowledges its moral responsibility to prevent this from occurring. Global resource use and the equity of this use are key elements in the climate negotiations. The Uniting Church maintains that all are equal in the eyes of God and this extends to our ability to enjoy and access the Creation.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report, (AR4) provides compelling evidence that most of the warming over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. It is likely that the 1990's was the warmest decade in the last 1000 years, at least in the northern hemisphere. Global warming is melting our polar ice caps and is also warming the oceans - this is having a dramatic affect on people in low lying nations in the Pacific where a number of our partner churches exist. In Kiribati people are already experiencing the effects of climate change - high tides and storm surges regularly flood houses, fresh water supplies are becoming salty and unpredictable weather patterns are affecting their ability to grow food.

The main causes of greenhouse gases in Australia are primarily electricity production (burning coal), agriculture (methane production) and transport (emissions). For more information see here: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/inventory/2006/index.html

For details on what the Uniting Church's policy position is - see the synod resolutions on climate change from 2007 and 2008. They can be accessed in the Environmental Resolutions file at http://victas.uca.org.au/green-church

Further information regarding these positions can be found in the report 'Climate Change: faith and action'.

Download the report 'Climate Change: faith and action' here.

The Justice and International Mission Unit is also involve in the Make Poverty History campaign. For more information on what we think Australia needs to do to respond to climate change and assist developing countries with the impacts of climate change, see out report See the bigger picture, Act on climate change .