On Saturday, 27 May, the City of Greater Bendigo hosted a Climate Summit at Ulumbarra Theatre to launch the draft of the Greater Bendigo 2030 Zero Emissions Roadmap.   Representatives of the Catholic Community participated at the event in a strong show of support for action on climate change.  

A  Greater Bendigo Faith Statement in support of a Greater Bendigo Zero Emissions Roadmap was read by Monsignor Frank Marriott, previous Chair of the Bendigo Interfaith Council.  The statement was then signed by local Faith Leaders, including Bishop Shane Mackinlay. 

By virtue of the statement, faith leaders committed to modelling and encouraging ecologically responsible behaviours and “stimulating consciences”. 

“… as faith leaders, we commit ourselves to the promotion of disaster risk reduction, adaptation, low carbon development, climate change education, curbing our own consumption patterns and reducing our use of fossil fuels. Based on our spiritual beliefs and our hope for the future, we commit to stimulating consciences and encouraging our peers and communities to consider such measures with urgency.” 

After the Interfaith Statement was signed, there was an Interfaith Panel Discussion. Kerry Stone, Sandhurst Caritas/Justice Coordinator; Chair, Sandhurst Care for Creation Team; and National Coordinator for Catholic Earthcare Parishes, represented the Diocese of Sandhurst on this panel.

Kerry said she was pleased that faith organisations had been invited to participate at the Summit.  

"Faith organisations have a role in leading people to see the earth as our common home and to understand the moral and ethical obligations, to hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,”  she said.

“I was very proud to share the structured approach that we, as a Catholic Church, have to achieving ecological justice and reducing emissions.  It was great that I could say that many of our parish and school communities are actually walking the talk,” Said Kerry. 

An example is St Francis of the Fields Primary School which showcased the sustainability actions their school is taking at the Youth Climate Action Forum. St Francis of the Fields became an Earthcare School in 2022 and has formed an Earthcare Team which focuses on practical ways to care for creation in their school.  Each Friday, this ‘Green Team’ and Year 6 Catholic Identity Student leaders join with teachers and parents to learn more about caring for our Common Home.  Some of the practical initiatives the school is taking include nude lunchboxes, walking or cycling to school, daily native animal and rubbish audits and practising gratitude for the gifts from our planet. 

The Climate Collaboration was formed by the City of Greater Bendigo to bring businesses, community organisations, faith communities and schools together to put the City on the path to zero climate-change emissions by 2030 and draft a zero emissions roadmap. 

The Climate Collaboration hosted the Summit to give people hope for the future, by providing opportunities for people to see for themselves the many opportunities we have as inpiduals, organisations and communities to change our trajectory and reduce climate change.  

All are encouraged to read the draft Greater Bendigo Zero Emissions Roadmap, which was created over the past year in consultation with people, businesses, communities, schools and other organisations in the Greater Bendigo area. All feedback is welcome and strongly encouraged.

The City of Greater Bendigo is working with Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, a network of thirteen local governments, to develop a roadmap for the region to become climate positive by 2035.  It’s an ambitious plan which aims to go beyond achieving net zero carbon emissions to create an environmental benefit by removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!  

 

Image above:  (L-R) Bishop Shane Mackinlay with Imam Atalla Khawaldeh who signed on behalf of the Bendigo Islamic Community Centre; Community Chaplain Lauren Lockwood-Porter who signed on behalf of the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo;  Rev Ken Rookes who signed on behalf of the Uniting Church in Australia Presbytery of Loddon-Mallee and Monsignor Frank Marriott, Sandhurst priest, former Administrator of the Diocese and previous Chair of the Bendigo Interfaith Council 

Ian Green, Chairman and Director of The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion has also the statement on their behalf, but is not pictured as he couldn't attend.