The publication in January of the European Commission’s report on climate change makes clear the seriousness of the situation, and the drastic nature of measures needed to halt change, if not to reverse it. Where does that leave the community of faith? Are we to blame God for deserting us in our hour of prosperity? Are we, like Job’s friends and neighbours, to say “curse God, and die?” Or are we to recognise that, however unpalatable this may seem, it is our actions and our collective lifestyle that have brought about this situation? Fifty years ago the average British citizen travelled five miles a day; now he or she travels 29 miles, and nine of that is overseas air travel. Fifty years ago the average home contained two or three electric motors, a vacuum cleaner, a fridge and perhaps a washing machine; count how many there are your home today
Yet we should not be dismayed. The years of crisis are often the landmarks of faith: the exodus, the exile, the persecutions under Nero, the European holocaust of the Jews, all of these have led people of faith towards new understandings of the God who is redeemer as well as creator, who is with us no matter what. So will climate change and our response to it, given sufficient prayer and dedication. Like Noah in Genesis 9 we have been given responsibility for the earth and for managing its fruitfulness; like Moses in Leviticus 25 we have the task of allowing years for the land to rest. But we have widely ignored these ecological covenants, and we are now paying the price for squandering God’s gifts. Yet if this crisis enables us to focus on using his gifts simply but well, it will be worth the problems of change. Elizabeth Goodridge and Ian Yearsley of Southwark Diocese
How many Lightbulbs does it take to Change a Christian? A Pocket Guide to Shrinking your Ecological Footprint by Claire Foster and David Shreeve, listas much of what individuals can do to help themselves, their churches and thier communities use less of theplanet’s resources. ISBN 978-071514127-4 £4.99.
Climate change – We can’t blame God for it