As part of the Synod Climate Action Strategy adopted in 2019 , the NSW and ACT Synod is encouraging Uniting Church members , households and communities to take part in the Living the Change initiative . Over the coming weeks , we will share information and resources to help Uniting Church members and congregations to reduce their emissions footprint and take other practical action on global warming .
Living the Change is a global multi-faith initiative that encourages people to make lifestyle changes to reduce their personal greenhouse gas emissions . It was initiated in 2017 in the US by Green Faith , an interfaith environmental organisation and is supported in Australia by the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change ( ARRCC ).
Living the Change is based on two deep convictions : the earth is a gift from God , and each of us has the responsibility to live in a way that supports and sustains our common home .
The program asked us to consider and make changes in three areas :
• Using more energy-efficient transport
• Shifting towards more plant-based diets
• Using more renewable energy at home
Why does it matter ?
While world leaders have agreed to try to limit global warming to 1.5oC , scientists tell us we are heading to at least twice that level of emissions . 1 A global rise in temperature of that scale is increasingly harmful to current generations and devastating for future ones . More intense and frequent droughts and fires , more damaging storms , the Barrier Reef destroyed , declines in animal and insect species , reduced food production and tens of millions of people displaced as climate refugees across the world .
St Margaret ’ s News 6 December 2020