AUSTRALIA’S bishops and others of Oceania have called on world leaders to act to protect “entire regions and nations … under threat from the effects of rising sea levels”.
The Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO) made the call in a statement ahead of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21 – Conference of Parties) meeting in December to review the implementation of the international convention on climate change.
The bishops sent a statement calling for the COP21 nations to take responsibility and action following the federation’s recent assembly in Noumea, New Caledonia.
FCBCO executive deputy president and Australian Catholic Bishops Conference representative Bishop Robert McGuckin of Toowoomba said, “of particular concern to us are rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and unusual rainfall patterns”.
“These are affecting many of our communities in a harmful way,” he said.
“In some cases, entire regions and nations are under threat from the indisputable fact of rising sea levels.”
The bishops said affected areas included the Carteret Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Fead Marshall, Mortlock, Nukumanu and Tokelau islands.
They said “the protection of the atmosphere and the oceans are powerful examples of the need for political representatives and leaders of nations to take responsibility for the wellbeing of peoples beyond their own particular shores or borders”.
“This requires courageous, selfless, far-sighted governance shaped by the principles of justice and fairness that reflect and protect the best of the human person,” they said.
“We commit to encouraging our own people, civic leaders included, to do their part to foster sustainable and equitable developmental and economic policies in our region.
“And we implore those gathered in Paris to work assiduously to reach binding outcomes that will enhance the care and protection of our planet as the home of the citizens of the world.”
The FCBCO includes representatives of the bishops’ conferences of Australia, CEPAC (the Pacific Island nations), New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen of Melbourne also represented the Australian bishops at the assembly.
