Faith leaders challenge G20 on climate

#996 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 16 Nov 2014.

Australian religious leaders have called on G20 leaders to urgently act on climate change, end fossil fuel subsidies and rapidly transition to a low carbon economy.

The faith leaders signed a joint statement describing fossil fuel subsidies as a “perverse incentive to destroy the biosphere” and calling on G20 leaders to recognise a link between economics and climate. They said:

Subsidies operate as a perverse incentive to destroy the biosphere, to deplete and pollute precious water sources, pollute the air and create significant health problems. It is a further injustice that, while wealthy countries spend tens of billions annually on subsidies for fossil fuels, most are failing to contribute more than the most basic amounts to meet the mitigation and adaption needs of the poor.

The signatories urged donor governments to commit public money to climate finance, and the technology transfers needed by developing countries to adopt cleaner and more efficient technologies.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.