Climate Change and Christian Response Dr. Mathew Koshy Punnackadu Climate change is a challenge we are facing now. Development and growth have, until now, been connected with increased gas emissions, which in the end contribute to global warming and climate change. There are two key reasons why the global warming crisis is, first and foremost, a justice issue. The first is that the people who are most vulnerable to its effects have done the least to cause it. The second major reason for climate change as a justice issue is that it comes when the world’s wealthiest nations have reached a peak of development while the poorest are still struggling to get on to the development ladder. While it is well within the means of rich countries to maintain their current levels of economic activity while adapting to climate change, the picture is very different for developing countries.
generations, offer an imperative to action to seek justice for those suffering and the threat posed to God’s creation Climate change is not mentioned in the Bible, nor has it so far been part of contemporary systematic theology. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now, and not only the creation, but we, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.(Romans8:23-24). The gospels tell us not only of the coming of Jesus but also of his complete identity with the human condition, in particular, his solidarity with the vulnerable, with those who suffer injustice. In the words of St Paul: ‘He emptied himself taking the form of a slave’. (Philippians 2.7). That solidarity is also reflected in Jesus’ specific command to care for those who are sick, hungry or thirsty, the strangers and the prisoners, because ‘just as you did it to one of the least of these…you did it to me’ (Matthew25:40). As the director of the department of ecological concerns of the Church of South India, I would like to mention some of our steps. The Church of South India Department of Ecological Concerns empowers congregations to take a prophetic stand against Climate injustice. The CSI Department of Ecological Concerns focuses on educating various sustainable development goals through EcoMinistry, campaigns for Climate Justice ministry, Green Protocol and Green School Programme. We are planning to create models of Climate-resilient communities.
We must make sure that future development is based on a low carbon approach. We should choose solutions with low emissions and ensure that the energy we use is renewable. This means harnessing the sun, wind and water instead of using carbon-based extractive resources like petroleum, oil, coal and gas. We should also take more care of those natural sinks such as forests, land and sea, where carbon is kept and stored naturally. Despite promising local and national developments to lower carbon use due to raising consciousness in society regarding the impacts of carbon on the environment, there is still a need for significant partnerships between countries in technology transfer and cooperation, financial support and investment, and solidarity and policymaking. As a church community, we believe that God creates all life on earth. As a part of our Christian faith and discipleship, we have to ensure the protection of the environment and the sustainable and equitable use of resources. The injustices of the climate crisis, including vast global inequalities and the threat to future
Resilience is strengthening human and non-human systems’ ability to withstand and respond to changes in the earth’s climate. It can be seen as a way to bridge the conceptual divide between mitigation approaches to climate change on the one hand and adaptation approaches on the other. Mitigation is to address climate change by cutting down greenhouse gas emissions. In order to avoid the gravest effects of a changing climate, humanity needs to limit the average global surface temperature to 2ºC above pre-industrial levels, but preferably 1.5ºC. In order to do that, we need to cut our greenhouse gas emissions above 50 per cent by 2050, lest we face serious risks, including more intense storms, droughts, and heat waves, all of which pose looming threats to human civilization and the environment. On the other hand, adaptation acknowledges that, even if we immediately cut our carbon emissions altogether, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases would remain well above normal levels for decades to come. In short, we need to adapt to a changing climate, or else we risk severe damage. Adaptation approaches vary based on geography, time, funding resources, levels of political support, and dozens
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