Dr Tim Mitchell
In August 2003 southern England sweltered under a notable heatwave.
On Sunday 10 August the British record temperature was beaten
and exceeded the symbolic figure of 100 degrees Fahrenheit for the first
time. On the continent the heatwave was more severe, more widespread,
and lasted longer.
Some enjoyed the heat while others suffered under it, but what did it
mean? Was it another example of the unusual weather events that we
occasionally experience? After all, the British summers of 1976 and 1995
were hotter. Or does global warming give the 2003 heatwave some special
significance?
Both are true! It is not possible to isolate a single weather event
like the heatwave, and say that global warming caused it. The earth’s
surface temperature is rising – by 0.5 degree Celsius in the last 50
years – but that has a subtle effect on all weather, rather than
directly causing individual weather events. However, as the earth
continues to warm, we can expect the 2003 heatwave to return in the
future with increasing severity.
The reason to expect hotter weather in the future is that mankind is
continuing to put greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, where they trap
heat that would otherwise escape into space. A large proportion of the
climate change over the last 50 years is directly due to these extra
greenhouse gases. We put greenhouse gases (especially carbon dioxide) in
the atmosphere whenever we burn fossil fuels, like coal, gas, or oil.
Remember – that includes not only our central heating and car fuel but
also any electricity we use: many power stations burn gas extracted from
underneath the North Sea.
The vast majority of the extra greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
have been put there by the Western world. This is one of the hidden
costs of our industrialised society, which worships earthly possessions,
and has developed unprecedented abilities to acquire them. As each year
unfolds, our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions increase further.
At the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the principle was agreed that action
should be taken to avoid ‘dangerous’ interference with the climate
system. Then at Kyoto in 1997 the industrialised countries agreed to
reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases by 5% by 2010 (compared to
1990). This weak first step is now unlikely to be met, because we have
not been willing to make the changes necessary to halt the inexorable
rise in emissions. As the rest of the world industrialises, emissions
may increase further.
Is this important? If British heatwaves were the only outcome from
global warming, perhaps not. Most future climate changes are likely to
be gradual rather than abrupt. Therefore the ability to adapt will be
crucially important. We can expect the poorer countries to be hit
hardest by climate change, simply because their weakness makes them more
vulnerable.
Some people take the view that this does not matter. What matters
above all is economic prosperity, and there are always some losers along
the way to greater wealth. Others put their faith in future progress in
technology: either we will find the technology to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, or else we will adapt to whatever climate change brings.
These opinions dominate our economy and society at present; the bottom
line is that no constraint on consumption can be tolerated. This
underlying motive stands in stark contrast to two clear Biblical
principles: stewardship and compassion.
God made Adam the head not only of the human race, but over all
creation (Genesis 1:28), and entrusted Eden to his care (2:15). At the
Fall, Adam’s privileges in Eden were lost, but his responsibility to
tend creation remained (3:17-19) and was renewed through Noah after the
Flood (9:2). Because of Adam’s sin, a curse of corruption was placed
on creation (3:17). However, at the end of time the curse will be lifted
(Romans 8:19-22) and creation will be brought into the freedom granted
through Christ!
As children of Adam, we have a responsibility to care for creation
because the Creator has made us his stewards. Now, as Christians, we are
also children of God and creation is eagerly awaiting our unveiling on
the Day of Christ (Romans 8:19). We will be the inhabitants of the new
earth (2 Peter 3:13). This gives us additional reason to fulfil our
mandate to care. The knowledge that the earth will be burned up first is
no reason to be slack now; rather, this gives us further motive to
fulfil our responsibilities (2 Peter 3:11).
The God of creation is also the God of compassion. I know that the
Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and justice for the poor
(Psalm 140:12). Therefore he who oppresses the poor reproaches his
Maker, but he who honours him has mercy on the needy (Proverbs
14:31). It is right to use the earth’s resources to meet our
legitimate needs. Yet if the industrialised world is careless in its
stewardship of God’s creation, so that global warming increases and
the poor suffer, God will not hold us guiltless. The fear of losing
wealth is no defence before him (Deuteronomy 15:9).
What can be done? Most people, quite reasonably, feel daunted by the
scale of the problem. It has to be tackled at the level of society as a
whole, and we should not ignore the principles of stewardship and
compassion when deciding for whom to vote. We must also recognise our
individual responsibility in our daily lives. Although this may include
more energy-efficient light-bulbs and less household waste, what is most
important is a different attitude to possessions. Are we, who have so
much, willing to forego a little in order to care for those who have
less? In the end, responding to global warming becomes one more aspect
of our struggle to be salt and light: You cannot serve both God and
money (Luke 16:13).
(Dr Tim Mitchell works for the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change
Research and is a member of Great Ellingham Baptist Church, Norfolk.)
