Take action for the environment this March
March 21, 2022
The Uniting Church has a long tradition of environmental advocacy which has understood care for all creation and action on climate as core to faith and matters of justice. Find out more about our vision and commitments.
In March and April, there are a number of opportunities to get involved in action, advocacy and education. We encourage you to add your voice and help us live out our shared commitment to care for all of God's creation, our common home.
You can read about our vision and key election asks on climate in our Federal Election 2022 resource.
School Strike 4 Climate:
25 March
Across the country on Friday 25 March, people will join both in person and online to call for climate justice and more robust policy to address the climate crisis as part of the global youth-led School Strike 4 Climate movement. Actions are expected to take place in at least 30 locations including every capital city.
In 2022, strikers are rallying to demand world leaders fight for #PeopleNotProfit.
The movement more broadly calls for an urgent pivot away from gas and fossil fuels, funding for a transition to renewable energy, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led solutions, and funding for secure jobs that fast-track solutions and assist community recovery.
Register to join a School Strike 4 Climate action in your capital city:
(All events are on 25 March unless stated otherwise)
Adelaide: 5pm, Victoria Square
Brisbane: 1pm, MP Julian Simmonds Office
Sydney: 12pm, The Domain
Melbourne: 12pm every day, 25-28 March in Melbourne CBD
Canberra: 1pm, Kambri at ANU; 11am on 29 April, Parliament Lawns
Tasmania will mark a week of Climate Awareness from 21-25 March on social media and online
Perth and Darwin TBC
For updates and for information about actions in other locations see the School Strike 4 Climate website. Join the conversation online using #ClimateStrike #PeopleNotProfit #uniting4climate.
Earth Hour: 8:30pm,
26 March
Earth Hour, organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature, is one of the world’s biggest movements raising environmental awareness and encouraging change to protect our planet. Every year millions of people around the world in more than 7,000 cities and 190 countries take part by switching off for 60 minutes as a symbolic gesture of solidarity to show they care about our planet's future.
This year, Earth Hour is at 8.30pm local time on Saturday 26 March. All Australians are invited to sign up to #ShapeOurFuture and join a worldwide community supporting stronger action on climate change.
You could:
- Switch to solar power
- Switch your ride
- Or just #SwitchOff your lights for Earth Hour to show your support for greater action on climate change.
Other opportunities and resources
Eating for Climate and Health: Our food system and how it must change (4 April)
For those interested in having a healthier diet and reducing the impacts of climate change, this online forum is for you. Featuring PhD researcher Kate Sievert, it will explore the many connections between what we eat, how and where that food is produced and climate change.
7pm-8:15pm (AEDT), Monday 4 April.
This talk is part of the Living the Change series under the Synod of NSW/ACT Climate Action Strategy. Living the Change focusses on the main lifestyle changes that individuals and households can make to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions footprint.
For more information contact Jon O’Brien (Social Justice Advocate with Uniting NSW.ACT) at joobrien@uniting.org or 0477 725 528.
Coming up: Earth Day (22 April)
Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day puts an annual spotlight on the environment and is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for the planet. In 2022, the theme is Invest in our Planet.
Australian Religious Response to Climate Change
ARRCC is a multi-faith, member-based organisation of people from around Australia who are committed to taking action on climate change. It organises and shares information about advocacy and events through the year, and coordinates Australian participation in global days of action. Find out more and connect on social media.