"Care for the environment is a critical issue in our time. While we don’t understand everything, we do know that human activity is doing great, and maybe irreparable, damage to our home, the earth. There are undeniable links between environmental degradation and poverty, an injustice we are called to overcome, from governments to individuals," said Rev John Henderson, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Australia.
"Climate change does more than threaten our environment – it threatens our health, our way of life and our economy," said ACF Executive Director Don Henry. "Global temperatures are increasing, placing untold pressure on fragile ecosystems around the world and putting communities at risk. But with the help of individuals in our community, of businesses and with political support, we can prevent dangerous climate change."
A joint brochure Changing Climate, Changing Creation has been produced and distributed through churches. The brochure encourages Australian Christians to:
• write to or visit their federal MP and ask what they are doing to address the threat of climate change
• find out more about reducing energy and water usage and waste at home
• take action on climate change within churches and small groups.
The brochure is also available through the websites mentioned above.
At the international level the issue has also come to the fore and forms a major part of the agenda at the current G8 meeting in Edinburgh. Acknowledging that evidence for global warming was continuing to mount, and reacting to increasing concern around the globe in relation to climate change, some world leaders are pushing for an agreement for urgent, strong action to address the issue. The main opposition to any such agreement comes from the US where the Bush Administration continues to reject the notion that climate change is due in large part to human activity.