Climate Action
Introduction
Humanists Australia values and respects planet Earth and all the life it contains. Human beings are part of the natural world, and throughout history our species has used the natural world to increase our individual and collective wellbeing. By doing so however, we have created a disproportionate effect on the global environment and on biodiversity. It has become increasingly clear that the impact humans have had, and continue to have on our natural world, is no longer sustainable under current practices and is resulting in a climate change crisis.
There is clear, tested, and replicated evidence of causation through scientific research, showing that human activities have significantly increased the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, particularly since the advent of the industrial age, resulting in the current phenomenon known as global warming. Humanists Australia affirms that the climate crisis is a profound moral, scientific, and humanitarian challenge.
Guided by science and driven by ethical responsibility, we assert that climate change is a humanist issue because it is fundamentally a human issue: it threatens our wellbeing, our future, and the web of life we are a part of.
‘No species has ever had such wholesale control over everything on earth, living or dead, as we now have. That lays upon us, whether we like it or not, an awesome responsibility. In our hands now lies not only our own future, but that of all other living creatures with whom we share the earth.’
David Attenborough, naturalist and broadcaster
Australia is among the world’s top exporters of liquid natural gas (LNG), with Russia and the USA. It is the second-largest exporter of coal (after Indonesia). When burned overseas, these fossil fuel exports result in 1.1 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. That’s almost three times Australia’s domestic emissions! They are the reason for Australia’s international reputation as a fossil fuel economy[1]. While these emissions do not count towards our national emissions targets, they still contribute to global climate change, a ‘tragedy of the commons’.
Australia has recently legislated a national target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, supported by interim goals like a 43% reduction by 2030 and 62-70% by 2035. This is still considered "Insufficient" by trackers[2], lagging behind nations like the UK, EU, and New Zealand in ambition relative to historical emissions and emissions intensity.
At COP30 in November 2025, Australia was one of the initial two dozen signatory nations to The Belém Declaration on the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels[3]. The declaration, co-led by Colombia and the Netherlands, is a non-binding statement of commitment to shifting energy systems from coal, oil, and gas to renewables and supporting developing nations in this transition. This is the first evidence of international cooperation and commitment to real fossil fuel phase-out.
Humanists Australia aligns with global climate action by advocating for science-based, rational solutions, supporting strong emission targets (like 70% cuts by 2035), pushing for divestment from fossil fuels, encouraging international cooperation, promoting human rights in climate policy, and emphasizing rational, evidence-based policy for sustainable well-being, influenced by humanist ethics that value human flourishing and planetary health. Our influence is exerted through lobbying and public campaigns, framing climate change as a critical human welfare issue requiring immediate, ethical, and collective responsibility.
The Humanist Position
Reason and Scientific Integrity
Humanists rely on evidence, reason, and critical thinking to understand the world. Climate science has produced an overwhelming consensus: human activities are the primary drivers of global warming, especially through the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Humanists, by definition, are guided by science and recognise a moral duty towards the welfare of our fellow beings and the natural world. We believe that we have a duty to defend the scientific consensus on the human causes of climate change. YouGov polling found that 84% of humanists believe that climate change is the biggest threat to civilization, compared with 63% of the general population[4].
The IPCC[5], WMO[6], WHO[7], CSIRO[8] and other scientific bodies affirm that urgent action is required. Humanists support the scientific consensus and reject disinformation and climate change denial driven by vested interests or ideological resistance[9].
Compassion and Global Solidarity
The climate crisis disproportionately affects the most vulnerable—those in low-income communities, developing nations, and future generations. Compassion demands that we recognize and respond to this injustice. Rising sea levels, droughts, wildfires, food insecurity, and extreme weather are already displacing millions and exacerbating poverty. Humanists advocate for climate justice that prioritizes empathy and fairness[10].
Community and Collective Action
Tackling climate change requires systemic change and collective will. As humanists, we value cooperative solutions that unite individuals, organizations, and governments. We encourage participation in climate action, both through democratic processes and grassroots activism. We support international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and community-led sustainability efforts[11]. We recognise the importance of ethical investment and spending, both individually and by our governments. We should choose, as much as is feasible, to purchase goods and services from companies that have demonstrated reduced environmental impacts. We should ensure that any investments (including superannuation funds) do not support fossil fuel industries and other forms of environmental degradation such as deforestation[12].
Integrity and Accountability
Humanists believe in taking personal and collective responsibility for our actions. Integrity means holding governments, corporations, and ourselves accountable for contributing to environmental degradation. It also means aligning our values with our actions by reducing emissions, supporting clean energy, and fostering transparent policymaking[13].
Resolve and Urgency
The scale and pace of climate change require determined and sustained action. Humanists approach this challenge with resolve. We reject apathy, fatalism, and procrastination. Climate mitigation and adaptation must be implemented with urgency, backed by science-based targets and ethical resolve to protect life on Earth [14][15][16].
Diversity and Inclusive Solutions
Diverse perspectives and experiences are vital to solving complex global problems. Climate change affects people differently based on geography, race, gender, ability, and economic status. Humanists support inclusive policies that center marginalized voices and empower underrepresented communities in climate discourse and decision-making[17].
Culture and Education
Humanists value lifelong learning and cultural expression. We support climate education rooted in scientific literacy and ethical reflection. The arts and humanities can powerfully express the human experience of climate change and inspire transformative action. A cultural shift toward sustainability is essential[18][19].
Environmental Stewardship
Human beings are part of the natural world, not separate from it. Humanists believe in respecting and protecting the ecosystems that sustain life. Biodiversity loss, deforestation, and ocean degradation are not only ecological crises but moral ones. Our finite planet demands sustainable coexistence with all living things[20].
Forgiveness and Constructive Engagement
While responsibility must be acknowledged, humanists also embrace the value of forgiveness in pursuit of progress. We encourage dialogue over division, and solutions over blame. We recognize that individuals and societies can evolve. Reconciliation and cooperation are essential to creating a shared path forward[21].
Future Generations
Humanists recognise that, while we individually will not be here in the future, our collective legacy is to leave our planet in better shape than we found it. We must act with wisdom, humility and conviction to embed long-term thinking into decision-making for future generations [22][23][24].
A Call to Action
The climate crisis calls for a renewed commitment to humanist values. Our compassion compels us to act; our reason equips us to understand; our community empowers us to change; our resolve drives us forward. Humanists Australia stands with those advocating for a just, sustainable, and humane future. We call on all individuals, institutions, and governments to take meaningful, science-informed, ethically grounded action on climate change.
Humanists know that we cannot look to a higher power to solve our problems for us. We have to take responsibility for our own lives, for the lives of others. This is the one life we have, and this is the one planet we share. Let us act with humanity, wisdom, and urgency to protect them both.
Appendix: Scientific Evidence of the Climate Crisis
Acknowledgements
Initial draft: Meg Moller
Advisers:
Prof Tim Flannery, Councillor, Climate Council
Dr David Cosgrove, Climate Researcher
Manu Prakaash, Director, Humanists Australia
Contributors: Les Allan, Alex Baidjurak, Rod Bower, David Cohan: Humanists Australia members.
Coordinator: Brian Gervaise
References
1. Jotzo F, Zou A (2025) Australia could become the world’s first net-zero exporter of fossil fuels, Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions: https://iceds.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/australia-could-become-world%E2%80%99s-first-net-zero-exporter-fossil-fuels
2. Australia’s rating, Climate Action Tracker: https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/australia/
3. The Belém Declaration on the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels https://fossilfueltreaty.org/first-international-conference
4. Lynas M, Houlton BZ and Perry S (2021) Greater than 99% consensus on human caused climate change in the peer reviewed scientific literature, Environmental Research Letters 16 (11) 114005. DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ac2966
5. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): https://www.ipcc.ch/
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8. State of the Climate Report, CSIRO https://www.csiro.au/en/research/environmental-impacts/climate-change/State-of-the-Climate
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11. Humanistic Sustainability Model, Relational Humanism: https://lifestyle.sustainability-directory.com/area/relational-humanism/
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14. Humanist Climate Action, Humanists UK: https://humanists.uk/humanist-climate-action/
15. Reykjavik Declaration on the Climate Change Crisis, Humanists International: https://humanists.international/policy/reykjavik-declaration-on-the-climate-change-crisis/
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17. Environmental humanities and climate change: understanding humans geologically and other life forms ethically, WIREs Climate Change 2017, e499. https://wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wcc.499
18. Jeong S, Sherman B, Tippins DS (2021) The Anthropocene as we know it: posthumanism, science education and scientific literacy as a path to sustainability, Cultural Studies of Science Education 16(6), https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11422-021-10029-9
19. Environmental Humanism, https://lifestyle.sustainability-directory.com/term/environmental-humanism/#:~:text=Environmental%20Humanism%20views%20human%20well%2Dbeing%20as%20intrinsically,our%20inherent%20place%20within%20nature's%20grand%20design.
20. Kate Lovelady: “Are humans bad for the Earth? Ethical Humanist Stewardship”, The New York Society for Ethical Culture, Video: https://ethical.nyc
21. Why Humanist Climate Action? Humanist Climate Action: https://humanists.uk/humanist-climate-action/why-humanist-climate-action/#:~:text=We%20are%20therefore%20all%20the,we%20bequeath%20to%20future%20generation
22. UNHCR Climate change and displacement (2025): https://www.unhcr.org/au/what-we-do/build-better-futures/climate-change-and-displacement
23. Joëlle Gergis, "Highway to Hell - Climate Change and Australia's Future", Quarterly Essay, QE94, June 2024 https://www.quarterlyessay.com.au/essay/2024/06/highway-to-hell
24. Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill (2025) https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7315