Advocacy and action: Uniting NSW/ACT

Uniting NSW.ACT is the social services and advocacy arm of the Uniting Church NSW/ACT Synod. In 2021, it set itself a target to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040. As one of the largest not-for-profit organisations in Australia, this is no small commitment. So far, the organisation has cut its emissions by 25.1% between 2010 and 2023. It has installed over 16,00 solar panels across its properties, and is in the process of expanding its fleet of 4 electric vehicles and 28 electric charging stations.

Uniting NSW.ACT is also using its public voice to advocate for greater political action on climate change. Jon O’Brien from the advocacy team explains this work.

Can you briefly tell us about Uniting NSW.ACT’s climate advocacy and collaboration with Church leaders, particularly from the Pacific Islands?

The Uniting Church has been concerned about care for the environment since its inception and the threats posed by climate change have been intensifying in recent years. In its 2019 meeting the NSW/ACT Synod voted (almost unanimously), to initiate a Climate Action Strategy. The resolution made three commitments: to advocate to all levels of government for reduced emissions; to take responsibility to reduce emissions across all parts of the church, and; to stand with young people in their advocacy on climate change (the School Strike 4 Climate movement was just beginning then).

Uniting, as the churches community services and advocacy arm, took a lead in advancing the strategy but with strong involvement from church leaders and members through five task groups. That aim to engage the wider church has remained while the core elements of the Strategy have evolved. In 2021 we held a planning conference to shape the next phase of the Strategy, which yielded important developments. These were to be bolder in our climate advocacy and to highlight the voices and perspectives of younger people, the rural community, First Nations peoples, and the Uniting Church Pasifika community. We put all these aims into practice in some way but the role of Pasifika leaders in climate advocacy has been a real strength. This reflects a longstanding Uniting Church concern for climate justice and knowledge that our Pacific neighbours are bearing the earliest and severest impacts of climate change.

In 2022 the Synod held a Pasifika led Uniting Church Climate election forum before the Federal election that year. Only Chris Bowen, then shadow Minister for Climate, of all the invited MPs attended. It was a lively, colourful, and passionate evening and Chris Bowen committed to meeting again with Uniting Church Pasifika leaders the following year. A second forum followed in October 2023 with Mr Bowen, now the federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy. The newly installed Moderator, Rev Mata Havea Hiliau, has continued speaking out on climate issues on behalf of the whole Synod and the Pasifika community. We are now planning our second climate strategy conference for May this year.

Can you tell us about how these two projects intersect?

They have to intersect don’t they. We need both parts! Our advocacy would lack authenticity and credibility if we were not working to reduce our own emissions. And by itself, without advocacy for societal change, our emissions reduction lacks effectiveness- it simply won’t be enough on its own

How has faith influenced this work?

As we said before the Uniting Church has a longstanding concern for the environment and behind that sits the conviction, expressed I think in a previous Assembly meeting, that “this groaning creation is God’s good creation.” While there are a range of views within the Uniting Church (we sometimes get emails saying our advocacy on climate is misguided) there is a conviction that our welfare is inextricably caught up with the welfare of all life. Another Assembly Resolution  “for the Sake of the Planet and all its People” expressed it further- “The Uniting Church’s commitment to the environment arises out of the Christian belief that God, as the Creator of the universe, calls us into a special relationship with the creation – a relationship of mutuality and interdependence which seeks the reconciliation of all creation with God. We believe that God’s will for the earth is renewal and reconciliation, not destruction by human beings.” 

What are your hopes and vision for the future?

I hope that we can continue to express care for the earth as a dimension of our mission. That will always include a prophetic aspect. So one hope is simply to be faithful to that mission. But we also believe that our future is reconciliation and renewal not destruction, so that means reducing warming to make a safer climate future possible. We want our advocacy to be successful as well!

What tips or encouragement would you share with other communities around the Uniting Church who want to start this journey?

One thing we’ve learned is that there are already so many Uniting Church members and congregation taking action in sustainability, creation care and climate action. So, affirming that but also bringing people together for collective advocacy and supporting them in that, is important.

To get involved in climate action with other UCA members, you can register for the Faith in a Better Future Conference organised by the Uniting NSW.ACT Advocacy team: https://events.humanitix.com/ucan-conference

This conference is being held on Saturday, 11 May and can be attended online or in-person at North Parramatta.

Left: Members of the Pasifika Empowered forum meet with Federal Minister Chris Bowen.
Right: Solar panels installed on the rooves of Uniting NSW.ACT buildings.

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