Can the Pope get Tony Abbott serious about climate change? - Women's Agenda

Can the Pope get Tony Abbott serious about climate change?

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is a very Catholic man, and one of our most devout politicians.

So you’d think he would have been listening in when the Pope issued a long statement on the environment last night.

Issuing a solo encyclical — a letter addressed from St. Peter’s Square to the world’s 1 billion plus Catholics — Pope Francis called for humanity to fight climate change and rebalance its relationship with the planet. He said that “doomsday predictions” can no longer be answered “with irony or disdain“.

Citing scientific evidence that finds climate change is real, he firmly put the blame on humanity: notably big business, bad scientists, indifferent individuals, energy companies and short-sighted politicians, to name a few.

The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth. In many parts of the planet, the elderly lament that once beautiful landscapes are now covered with rubbish.”

He pleaded with humanity to embrace alternative energy sources. “We know that technology based on the use of highly polluting fossil fuels — especially coal, but also oil and, to a lesser degree, gas — needs to be progressively replaced without delay.

His other “commandments” on climate change were to consider future generations, think about the world’s poor, take public transport, educate yourself and reconsider energy use at home. 

“Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods.” Echoing comments once said by former prime minister Kevin Rudd, he added that: “It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day.”

The Pope issued the letter in the lead up to the Paris summit later this year, where it’s hoped countries can sign a commitment on reducing global warming.

Abbott has previously claimed he takes climate change “seriously”. However, his stance on relevant policies to mitigate climate change would suggest otherwise. Abbott campaigned relentlessly against an Emissions Trading Scheme when he took the Liberal Party leadership, and campaigned in 2013 on a commitment to repeal the Carbon Tax. He’s boasted about reducing our renewable energy target and this week even called for a “wind farm Commissioner” to investigate complaints about wind turbines.

Abbott’s stance on climate change is increasingly out of step with the rest of the developed world. Last week, the Group of Seven supported a cut in 2010 greenhouse emissions levels by 40 to 70% by 2050, and declared that fossil fuel emissions need to be phased out entirely by the end of the century. In the coming days, China is expected to announce an ambitious 2030 emissions reduction target.

And now it seems Abbott is out of step with the Catholic Church on climate change. On this one at least, the Church is modernising much faster than Abbott.

So will Abbott shift to the Church’s renewed thinking on climate change — despite it being a little inconvenient to his previous views expressed on the matter?

×

Stay Smart! Get Savvy!

Get Women’s Agenda in your inbox