A Statement from The Catholic Justice & Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Brisbane on Climate Action
The Catholic Justice & Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Brisbane acknowledges the deep concern and frustration of many people with the failure of political leaders in Australia and around the world to take urgent and far-reaching action to address the climate crisis. The most recent report of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes it crystal clear that the world is on the brink of unprecedented environmental and social upheaval as a result of dangerous climate change. Fellow Australians in the Torres Strait and our neighbours in the Pacific are not just worried about the future; they are facing the destructive impacts of climate change now.
In his encyclical, Laudato Si, Pope Francis criticises the short-sightedness of “power politics” which delays the implementation of policies which effectively address critical environmental challenges in a timely manner. In these circumstances, it is understandable and appropriate that people of all ages in every country take action to pressure political leaders to stop evading their responsibility to do what is urgently needed to deal with environmental crises like dangerous climate change. The Australian Government must commit itself to phasing out the use of coal and other fossil fuels quickly. Fossil fuels do not have a future if we are to respond to the evidence on climate change before us now. We must transition quickly to renewable energy and we must support communities affected by the phasing out of the mining and burning of fossil fuels.
The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Brisbane respects those who take nonviolent, peaceful action to pressure decision makers to protect the earth and all who live on it from even more serious consequences of dangerous climate change.
The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Brisbane is in solidarity with our damaged and degraded earth. We are in solidarity with the peoples of the Torres Strait Islands and the Pacific. We are in solidarity with all those who take action to protect us and the earth from more serious climate change impacts including young people who, in good conscience, choose to take action today and in the future.
We will continue to find ways to enable all their voices to be heard and respected.
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Thea Ormerod