Climate Change: everybody’s problem
Climate change “is not a marginal question, it's about everybody's justice, everybody's life in the future,” the Archbishop Rowan Williams warned last month.
Concern about climate change has now clearly moved from a small group of scientists to one of critical importance for many communities around the globe - from Australian farmers struggling with ongoing drought and salinity, to Pacific island nations facing rising sea levels.
A World Bank report, Not If But When, published in February warned that climate change will have a huge impact on the Pacific islands, and has cautioned against a “wait and mitigate” approach to the looming crisis.
“Without policies and initiatives in place, the impacts of climate change are likely to be significant and fall disproportionately onthe poor,” the report warns. (C. Banham. Time Running out for Pacific climate change strategy. Sydney Morning Herald. 13th Feb 2006)
“Sectors as varied as agriculture, water supply, coastal infrastructure, natural ecosystems and health are likely to be affected.”
Archbishop Rowan Williams sees this environmental challenge as a personal call to action.
“I don't think it's compatible with a Christian ethic to ignore the environmental degradation that we face - it is a moral question for everyone and a present imperative,” Archbishop Rowan says.
Archbishop Rowan says that “the moral responsibility (for climate change) lies with absolutely everybody - not only in terms of examining our own lifestyle and asking what, concretely can be done, but also in sending a message to governments that this is recognized as a priority by the public.”
“If we think about the question of fuel use, it's obvious that the shortage of fuel supplies for … heavy car using economies to put it bluntly, is going to be a factor in destabilising the global political situation in the next decade or so. It's been pointed out by a number of economists … that high oil-producing areas are at the moment almost all in areas of major political instability.”
“We can't talk about this in abstract as if we occupied a high moral ground; we have got to look at our (own) practice too.” AngliCORD has joined a new coalition of Australian relief, development and environmental organisations to encourage Australians to take on a greater responsibility for our contribution to climate change and for the wellbeing of our neighbours.
Passionate about climate change? Contact us, as we’d love to hear about your commitment, ideas and efforts to make a difference. Talk with your local MP and let him know you think climate change should be a top priority. Talk to them about mandatory renewable energy targets and reducing Australia’s carbon emissions.Friends of the Earth have more information: www.foe.org.au/climate-justice Learn more about how to reduce your impact on the environment, one source of information is: www.footprint.org |