[Anglican Media Melbourne] Archbishop of Melbourne Philip Freier has joined other religious leaders in urging more ambitious emissions targets to halt climate change, saying that politicians may have misread Australians’ commitment to effective action.

Dr Freier signed letters with Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Catholic and Uniting Church leaders to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Environment Minister Greg Hunt, and another to Labor leader Bill Shorten and Shadow Environment Minister Mark Butler.

The leaders urge a target for Australia of 40% below 1990 levels by 2025. They say they are pleased that the Government has acknowledged the importance of Australia contributing to an effective global agreement in Paris later his year, but this needs to be match by robust policies.

Read the letters and further media reports on the website of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne.