The Minister for Climate Change, The Hon. Chris Bowen, has invited Climate Ministers from the Pacific Nations to Australia to discuss the impacts of climate change across the region, and continue to build on the joint Australia/Pacific Nations bid to host COP31.
As part of the visit, the Uniting Church Synod of NSW & ACT and Uniting NSW.ACT facilitated a Community Talanoa for the Climate Ministers to hear stories of the impacts of climate change from leaders of the Uniting Church Pasifika Community, then offer local MPs the opportunity to join small informal Talanoas.
Rev. Faaimata (Mata) Havea Hiliau, Moderator of the Uniting Church Synod of NSW & ACT said: "Climate change affects everyone, but not everyone equally – as always it is the most vulnerable that bear the most weight of harmful climate impacts.
"Climate change caused by burning fossil fuels – we must change course, urgently.
"We will continue to lobby government and advocate loudly to seek better, fairer and more equitable climate policy in Australia and play a meaningful part in global efforts to radically curb emissions.
"Pacific diaspora voices in Australia have not played a role in decision-making around climate solutions but we can be a powerful force to drive the climate solutions in Australia being called for by our Pacific family. We just need to get organised.
"We are a part of a church that has 350 congregations across NSW and ACT and are connected to a church with a national footprint.
"We are grateful to Minister Bowen and these Pacific Climate Ministers for allowing us the opportunity to share the voices, experiences and calls for action of our congregations," Rev. Mata said.
Alice Salomon, Head of Advocacy, Uniting NSW.ACT, said: "Uniting is working on many fronts to tackle climate change and ensure that the people we serve are not left behind. We know those who can least afford it who are being unfairly impacted the most by the climate and energy crisis.
"This Talanoa with Minister Bowen and Pacific Climate Ministers is an incredibly important opportunity for Ministers to hear our calls, hear our support and lobby for greater ambition and action on global heating and its devastating impacts not just in the Pacific but on the people we serve in the community.
"We need to drastically curb our emissions if we want to see the harm caused by global heating on the most vulnerable reduced," Alice said.
