Join the National Day of Climate Action – 20th September 2019
Climate change poses a significant threat to the future of our planet and its people. The news is full of reports of extreme weather conditions and rising sea levels impacting poor and vulnerable people around the world. Scientists agree that by 2050 global carbon emissions need to be half of those in 2000 if we hope to reduce global warming by any more than 2 degrees.
Friday 20th September 2019 is a National Day of Climate Action. I encourage all Anglicans to participate and to call on our political leaders to take decisive action to combat climate change.
As Christians we care very much about what happens to people and to our earthly home. God expects us to be good stewards of His creation (Genesis 2:15) and Jesus clearly commanded “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31). So we cannot ignore the fact that our neighbours are being threatened by a changing climate. Acting to address the threat of climate change isn’t optional, it’s what a follower of Jesus should do.
The Anglican Church of Australia endorses the call for a National Day of Climate Action. The Anglican Church of Tasmania agrees that we must care for our environment and be a voice in support of appropriate environmental action, particularly as it is the poor who are most often affected.
I encourage you to consider how you might advocate on behalf of the poor and most vulnerable members of the global community and be a positive voice for change.
The Right Reverend Dr Richard Condie
Bishop of Tasmania
4 September 2019