The Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Western Australia has decided to divest from companies involved in mining, exporting, or energy generation from fossil fuels. Instead, the Church will seek to invest in companies which reduce the impact on the environment through power generation from renewable sources.
The Church’s investment policy has always been guided by ethical principles. Since its inception in 1977, the Uniting Church has expressed its concerns for the environment. Over time, this call has only become more urgent, with the Church making many statements on the need to act on climate change. The Church recognises that divestment from fossil fuels is important in transitioning to a renewable energy future. The Church is committed to promoting renewable energy as a priority in responding to the challenge of climate change.
The Uniting Church in Australia, national Assembly, as well as the Uniting Church in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, have also recently committed to divesting from companies involved in the extraction of fossil fuels.
The Uniting Church in Australia, Western Australia, Acting General Secretary, Rosemary Hudson Miller said divestment from fossil fuels is an important move in the church’s journey of action on climate change.
“The Uniting Church in WA will now begin the process of excluding investment in fossil fuel related business activity under our ethical investment rules, and divest specifically from companies directly engaged in such practices,” she said.
“We hope and pray that other organisations will take-up this call, as some of our counterparts have before us, so that Australia can send a message to the world that we want to work towards major action on climate change.”
Uniting Church members from around Western Australia came together to discuss issues of importance in the life of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Western Australia, and the wider community at the 38th Annual Synod and the 9th Annual General Meeting of the Presbytery of Western Australia last weekend, Saturday 13 to Sunday 14 September.