The
Prime Minister, Tony Abbot – who had been studying for the priesthood for a
number of years – won power over a year ago, promising to abolish the carbon
tax introduced by the previous government.
This he did amid great glee on the Government benches. Abbot immediately abolished the Climate Commission
and did away with the position of Science Minister. It is the first time since 1931 that
Australia has not had a Minister for Science.
Our
planet is a beautiful and fruitful place but it is also very fragile and we are
charged with the responsibility of looking after it. The land, sea and sky work in harmony to
provide us with the possibility of meeting our material needs. We depend on its proper functioning for the
air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. But if it is knocked off-balance there can be
serious consequences.
The
scientific evidence is clear now that the climate change taking place is
influenced by the carbon emissions resulting from human activity. Emissions are
continuing to rise and unless serious steps are taken there will be significant
impact on sea levels, rainfall patterns and extreme weather events. We do not have to look to the future to see
the devastation of climate change. It is
already happening and to ignore it is irresponsible.
Christianity
teaches us that we are the stewards of God’s creation. , Our faith tells us of
our responsibility to care for God’s earth so that we can pass it on to the
generations coming after us in good health.
In 2001 Pope John Paul II accused mankind of ‘humiliating’ the earth. He said: ‘Man is no longer the Creator’s
steward but an autonomous despot who is finally beginning to understand that he
must stop at the edge of the abyss.’ But
not everyone is ‘finally beginning to understand this’, certainly not those in
power in Australia. Australia has more
to fear from climate change than most developed countries. Its per capita carbon emissions are among the
highest in the world and are higher than any other OECD country. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development – the ‘rich countries club’ – has thirty members.
With
a menacing weather pattern already developing in the Pacific, Australians have
been warned to expect severe temperatures across the country from now until
April. This means an increased risk of
bushfires and the cities of Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth are all
predicted to experience heat-waves. In
spite of voting into power a government whose views are well known, a recent
poll shows that 45% of Australians see global warming as a ‘serious and
pressing problem’ – up five points since last year. Maybe Abbot and his ministers will get the
message.
Over
the past few days a European Union Summit was held in Brussels. Carbon Emission targets were high on the
agenda. The good news is that they
agreed an ambitious climate change package.
In turn this might encourage other countries to take the issue more
seriously.
Pope
Francis has made the environment a major aspect of his papacy. In the homily of his inauguration Mass
eighteen months ago he emphasised that ‘protecting all creation and respecting
the environment in which we live’ is the responsibility of everyone. The earth is God’s gift to the whole human
race. Everyone is entitled to the
opportunity to the means to live with dignity.
Africa is responsible for less than 3% of global greenhouse gas
emissions but is suffering most.
Droughts and rising sea levels caused by industrialised nations
fundamentally affect the lives of millions of people in poor countries. This is unjust. Each of us has a role to play and you have
done magnificently in enabling our parish to move away from fossil fuel
dependency and harness the energy of the sun but we need the go-ahead from the
planning authorities to do so.
