Uniting Climate Conference: Faith in a Better Future

Join us on Saturday May 11 for our Uniting Climate Conference – Faith in a Better Future

The Uniting Church has a long tradition of environmental concern and action.

The conference will bring Uniting Church and wider community members together in shared concern for a better future.

The conference will be held in Sydney for those who can attend in-person, but all keynote sessions and afternoon plenary will be livestreamed for those joining online.

Workshops are divided into dedicated online and face-to-face workshop streams to make sure everyone is able to get involved. There will be two sessions with three options to choose from per session. Take a look at the programs of the two streams by clicking the links:

Full agenda and more details here

Conference Outline

Morning Session (9.00-11.05am)  

• Welcome to Country - Julie Jones Webb Dharug Knowledge Holder
• Opening prayer/reading - Rev Meredith Williams
• Introduction to conference: Outline, purpose and what to expect - Alice Salomon
• Welcome/ Why the Uniting church cares about the environment/climate action and stands with vulnerable people - Rev Faaimata Havea Hiliau, Moderator of the NSW.ACT Synod
• Keynote Address: Uniting for Climate Justice - Miriam Lyons (Sunrise Project)
• Special Guest Video Addresses: Senator David Pocock, Bill McKibben (350.0rg)
• Young Climate Changemakers Panel: Grace Vegesana (AYCC), Hayden Charles  (UAICC), Raul Sugunananthan (Uniting Assembly), Rosaline Parker (Young Women's Pacific Collective)

In-Person Workshop Session 1 (11.30am-12.30pm) – Choose 1

• The Real Cost of Climate Change: How Climate Change Worsens Disadvantage - Nirmal Joy (Sydney Community Forum)
• Climate Justice is First Nations Justice: What Real Allyship Looks Like – Hayden Charles (UAICC)
• Love Our Neighbours: Pacific Leadership on Climate Advocacy – Joseph Sikulu (350 Pacific)

Online Workshop Session 1 (11.30am-12.30pm) – Choose 1

• Climate Conversations: How to talk about climate change Ken Enderby (Climate for Change)
• Shifting to a regenerative world: opportunities and challenges for regional communities - Lizzie Webb (The Next Economy)
• Building community resilience to climate disasters -Dr Kim Loo and Dr Lai Heng Foong (Doctors for the Environment Aust)

Lunch break 12.30-1.30pm

In-Person Workshop Session 2 (1.30-2.30pm) – Choose 1

• Climate Conversations: How to talk about climate change Ken Enderby (Climate for Change)
• Climate impacts on our health (and what we can do about it) - Dr Kim Loo and Dr Lai Heng Foong (Doctors for the Environment Aust)
• Climate Action: What does faith add? - Gawaine Powell Davies (ARRCC)

Online Workshop Session 2 (1.30-2.30pm) – Choose 1

• Fair Fast and Inclusive!: What does a 'Just Transition' Really Mean? - Rochelle Braaf (ACOSS)
• Farmers for Climate Action - Peter Holding (Farmers for Climate Action)
• Climate Justice is First Nations Justice: What Real Allyship Looks Like - Scott Wilson (Gevolve Solutions)

Uniting Climate Action Snapshot (2.30-3.10pm)

Uniting Church Climate action Snapshot (Assembly Resourcing Unit, Uniting World, Synod of NSW.ACT, Forest Advocacy Ministry, Uniting Advocacy Strategy Proposal

Afternoon Tea Break (3.10-3.30pm)

Reflection Discernment and Action Planning Session (3.30-4.25pm)

Final words, Benediction and Close (4.25-4.30pm)

Why is it needed?

Australia has taken some positive steps recently, but we are still falling short of what is required to ensure a safe climate future for all.

Global warming is causing harm now with more serious threats in future.  It also presents an enormous opportunity to shift to a more sustainable world. How we respond will be decisive for which path we take.

We know the harmful impacts of extreme climate change are not shared equally. Those who have contributed least to the problem are often most vulnerable. We must address this.

What is the conference about?

The Faith in a Better Future conference is a chance to share mutual support and build common purpose in climate action. We’ll hear about the impacts global warming is already having, including for our Pasifika neighbours, First Nations peoples, those in rural areas, and our young people. But we won’t stop there.

Importantly, we’ll also focus on solutions and action. We’ll be informed about steps we need to take to ensure a safer climate future for all, and we’ll consider and decide how we can best contribute to those steps happening, individually and collectively. This work will shape our Uniting Climate advocacy strategy in the lead up to the next federal election.

Please share this information with your friends, congregation and community members, and others who would be interested.

For questions or more information, please contact Jon O’Brien on 0477 725 528 or at joobrien@uniting.org