Media Release

Churches to Collaborate on Response to Government Climate Change Paper

Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission is working with Queensland Churches Together to organise an ecumenical workshop on the Queensland Government’s discussion paper on climate change Climate Smart Adaptation:  What Does Climate Change Mean For You?

The discussion paper, which was released last November, considers future impacts of climate change on Queensland and possible responses.

Officers from the Department of Natural Resources will make a presentation on the paper and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and to collaborate on the formulation of a joint response.

The Commission’s Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, said that it is hoped the workshop will be the beginning of on-going ecumenical collaboration on environmental education within Queensland Churches and of action on critical environmental issues within the wider community.

“Our Commission has worked on practical responses to climate change in energy saving workshops in 2003 and 2004 and we were delighted that we were able to do this with members of other Churches as well as with Catholic parishioners,” Mr Arndt said.

“We hope that this initiative may provide an opportunity to build an ecumenical environmental network,” he said.

“Climate change is one of the most pressing environmental issues facing our world and Christians can play an important part in bringing about change which responds to this problem effectively,” he said.

“The Queensland Government paper focuses on the impact of climate change on Queensland and Queensland Christians can contribute to a response which offers hope for future generations who will face the worst consequences of climate change,” he said.

The workshop will be held on Friday 17 February from 3.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 68 Hawthorne St, Woolloongabba.

It will begin with afternoon tea and an admission fee of $12 will be charged to cover costs.

Bookings should be made by Wednesday 15 February by phoning Donna on 3336 9351 or by e-mailing longlandd@bne.catholic.net.au/

For more information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.

NB This release is issued under the provisions of the Commission’s Charter, which enable it to speak in its own right.  The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.