CHANTAL ABITBOL

WITH world figures set to meet in Copenhagen next month to thrash out plans to protect the environment, a group of religious leaders from around Australia converged on Parliament House in Canberra to lobby the Government for a tougher emissions trading scheme.

The leaders, who represented a cross-section of faiths and included Emanuel Synagogue’s Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins, met with Minister for Climate Change Penny Wong late last month with a list of requests.

It marked the first time religious leaders in Australia have come together to create a unified public stance on the issue.

Among their requests were for Australia to reduce emissions by up to 40 per cent from 1990 levels by the year 2020, and for the Government to contribute billions of dollars annually to help developing countries adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

“Climate change is real, it requires a significant and urgent response,” said Council of Progressive Rabbis chairman Rabbi Kamins, who represented the Jewish community at the meeting.

“We share the moral values of justice, compassion and mutual responsibility for humanity and for the life that sustains us on this planet. To do nothing will have far greater, long-term negative costs.”

Reverend Professor James Haire, director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, specifically expressed concern for people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Even a small rise in global temperatures would have the effect of compounding their water shortages and devastating their populations,” he said.

Other religious leaders who took part included Ikebal Patel, president of Australian Federation of Islamic Councils; Kanti Jinna, vice-chairman of Hindu Council of Australia; Bhante Sujato, executive of Australian Sangha Association; Sister Geraldine Kearney, of Australian Catholic Religious; and Bhikkhu Sujato, of the Buddhist Council of NSW.

Thea Ormerod, chair of Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, said faith communities were now engaging more on the issue out of a moral obligation.

“The foundation of all the great religions was built upon us being custodians and caring for the earth. Australia and other developed countries need to address their historical responsibility.”