Leading religious figures have called on the Abbott government and Labor to commit to deep cuts in greenhouse gases after the current goal expires in 2020.
In letters to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change representing Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist groups called on Australia to pledge a 40 per cent cut in carbon emissions from 1990 levels by 2025. By 2030, the reduction should increase to 80 per cent, the group said.
"Australia has the technological and economic capacity to deliver on these policies," the letter said, adding there is a "moral imperative" to keep temperature increases to less than 2 degrees of pre-industrial levels.
"It's important for all humanity," Dr Freier said. "It's bigger than our differences."
Aiming for deep cuts was important "for regaining momentum" after the recent agreement by the government and Labor to slash the Renewable Energy Target for 2020 by about 20 per cent, he said.
"The great danger is that we equivocate", leaving a bigger burden for future generations, Dr Freier said.
Australia's current goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 5 per cent on 2000 levels by 2020. The Abbott government has said it will reveal its post-2020 stance by mid-year, ahead of the Paris climate summit planned for late this year.
The letter also calls on Opposition leader Bill Shorten to push for "robust commitments" on carbon cuts at Labor's National Conference in Melbourne on July 24-26.
Australia's Grand Mufti, Ibrahim Abu Mohamad added the support of the Muslim community to the letter, telling Fairfax Media it was the responsibility of the current generation to limit pollution.
"I believe that the participation in the protection of the environment is a moral necessity, and not taking steps towards rectifying the current pollution levels is a form of moral pollution," Dr Ibrahim said.
"Industries should aim to serve the environment and not the opposite and if the development of humanity is achieved at the cost of destroying the environment than we need to rethink our strategies of development."
Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black, an environmental advisor to the Council of Progressive Rabbis, said the letter reflected a long-standing religious ethos that humans should "live in harmony with the Earth".
Curbing climate change is "extremely urgent", he said, adding that huge heatwaves with temperatures approaching 50 degrees in recent days that have killed more than 500 people are just the latest reason for concern.
"Wherever you look, there are extremes of temperatures, records are being broken at an alarming rate," Mr Keren-Black said. "It's really happening faster than people are giving it credit for."
Australia's response so far was "totally inadequate", given the country's high per-capita emissions and also its role as one of the biggest exporters of fossil fuels.
Dr Freier said Australia's 23 dioceses would choose separately whether to follow the lead of the Church of England, which last month decided to divest its 12 million-pound ($23.7 million) holdings in thermal coal and tar sands oil.
While the Melbourne synod agreed last year not to "have heavy investment in fossil fuels", the Anglican community remains cautious about barring holdings as it does for tobacco, alcohol, gambling and arms, he said.
"We wouldn't want to abandon our commitment" to the Australian economy, Dr Freier said.
In letters to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change representing Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist groups called on Australia to pledge a 40 per cent cut in carbon emissions from 1990 levels by 2025. By 2030, the reduction should increase to 80 per cent, the group said.
"Australia has the technological and economic capacity to deliver on these policies," the letter said, adding there is a "moral imperative" to keep temperature increases to less than 2 degrees of pre-industrial levels.
"It's important for all humanity," Dr Freier said. "It's bigger than our differences."
Aiming for deep cuts was important "for regaining momentum" after the recent agreement by the government and Labor to slash the Renewable Energy Target for 2020 by about 20 per cent, he said.
"The great danger is that we equivocate", leaving a bigger burden for future generations, Dr Freier said.
Australia's current goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 5 per cent on 2000 levels by 2020. The Abbott government has said it will reveal its post-2020 stance by mid-year, ahead of the Paris climate summit planned for late this year.
The letter also calls on Opposition leader Bill Shorten to push for "robust commitments" on carbon cuts at Labor's National Conference in Melbourne on July 24-26.
Australia's Grand Mufti, Ibrahim Abu Mohamad added the support of the Muslim community to the letter, telling Fairfax Media it was the responsibility of the current generation to limit pollution.
"I believe that the participation in the protection of the environment is a moral necessity, and not taking steps towards rectifying the current pollution levels is a form of moral pollution," Dr Ibrahim said.
"Industries should aim to serve the environment and not the opposite and if the development of humanity is achieved at the cost of destroying the environment than we need to rethink our strategies of development."
Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black, an environmental advisor to the Council of Progressive Rabbis, said the letter reflected a long-standing religious ethos that humans should "live in harmony with the Earth".
Curbing climate change is "extremely urgent", he said, adding that huge heatwaves with temperatures approaching 50 degrees in recent days that have killed more than 500 people are just the latest reason for concern.
"Wherever you look, there are extremes of temperatures, records are being broken at an alarming rate," Mr Keren-Black said. "It's really happening faster than people are giving it credit for."
Australia's response so far was "totally inadequate", given the country's high per-capita emissions and also its role as one of the biggest exporters of fossil fuels.
Dr Freier said Australia's 23 dioceses would choose separately whether to follow the lead of the Church of England, which last month decided to divest its 12 million-pound ($23.7 million) holdings in thermal coal and tar sands oil.
While the Melbourne synod agreed last year not to "have heavy investment in fossil fuels", the Anglican community remains cautious about barring holdings as it does for tobacco, alcohol, gambling and arms, he said.
"We wouldn't want to abandon our commitment" to the Australian economy, Dr Freier said.
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