PARISHES across Australia are raising banners in the lead up to Laudato Si’ Week and the coming federal election, calling for bold action on climate change.
Laudato Si’ Week 2022, to be held in Australia from May 16-24 (internationally from May 22-29), will mark the seventh anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on creation care.
“I think people are starting to wake up that this is an important issue that we need to be vocal about,” Wayne Anderson, from Brisbane’s Kedron parish said.
“And I think that’s about being authentic to the Gospel call.”
Mr Anderson is a member of his parish’s Justice Peace and Care for Creation Committee eager to promote Laudato Si’ Week 2022, marking the seventh anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on creation care.
During the week – on May 21 – Australian voters will go to the polls with climate change identified as the number one election issue, ahead of cost of living and the economy, according to the ABC’s Vote Compass.
Data collected from almost 100,000 Australians shows climate change has shot ahead as a topic of concern in recent years, jumping from five per cent of Australians saying it was their most important issue in 2016 to 27 per cent in 2019 and 29 per cent in 2022.
Severe droughts, bushfires and flooding have fuelled concerns about climate change.
Among 18 to 29-year-olds, 38 per cent identified the issue as their priority.
“I know that through my own children climate issues are where they are at,” Mr Anderson, who has two daughters and a granddaughter, said.
“And their friends sort of look back at us in the Catholic Church and are saying ‘Why aren’t you guys doing more about this?’.”
Mr Anderson said the lead up to Laudato Si’ Week, (and to the Federal election) represented an opportunity to raise environmental awareness, and to push publicly for a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2030.
“The longer we leave it the greater the risk to the planet,” he said.
“My sense is that a lot of Catholics are just hoping that the government, whoever may be in power, are working it out and will do the right thing.”
Mr Anderson said he was buoyed by Australian faith leaders signing an Easter open letter calling for government leaders to take climate change action.
The letter’s signatories, including Brisbane Archbishop, Mark Coleridge and Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, calls for:
- Halving carbon emissions this decade, in line with the latest recommendation of scientists and targets of their major trading partners;
- Transforming energy system towards 100 per cent renewable electricity while delivering a planned and just transition for energy workers; and
- Investing in programs to support communities on the frontlines to plan, prepare and adapt to the extreme weather events.
The multi-faith network Australian Religious Response to Climate Change provides a website with tools and information about the science of climate change, relevant public policy, and dates for upcoming public events and actions.
