In May 2022, our world passed a new milestone. The amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere reached 50% more than existed before humans began our industrial revolution.

Australians are seeing the effects of this rising carbon level in the form of extreme weather events (including bushfires and floods), rising housing insurance costs in many areas, and whole ecosystems under threat (including parts of our Great Barrier Reef). The world has also reached a record high level of forced human displacement in 2022, partly due to climate change.

ABM, AID and our supporters have been trying to do our bit to resist climate change. In 2020, we published a guide to action, which you can download or order a print copy here: Climate for Change.

We are funding local partners in Kenya, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands as they mitigate climate change and promote adaptation. Their methods have included planting trees to trap carbon dioxide, promoting new irrigation technologies and drought-resistant crops, strengthening sea walls, promoting fuel-efficient stoves, helping communities prepare for natural disasters, and collecting climate change data that can later be used for advocacy.

ABM and AID also support networks such as ACFID, MICAH, the Action by Churches (ACT) Alliance and Anglican Alliance, all of which conduct advocacy on climate change.

Despite government pledges, action by concerned citizens around the world, and even despite COVID-19, carbon emissions in 2021 totalled 36.3 billion tons, the highest level in human history. The challenge of curtailing climate emissions will be an ongoing one.

Let us keep this in mind as we reflect on the fifth Mark of Mission of the Anglican Communion – “Protect, care for and renew life on our planet.”