Stewardship of our Global Climate

Linda B. Rimer, Environmental Stewardship Committee Chair

In May 2004, our Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold, along with 30 national religious leaders and prominent scientists, sent a letter to the Congress of the United States pleading for action to address global climate change. Noting in the letter that the United States, which represents approximately 4% of the world's population, contributes 25% of the increased greenhouse gas concentration, these leaders wrote the following:

"When 'discernable human influence' is determined to be a cause of destruction, we are dealing with moral and ethical concerns . . . for many, these are shaped by religious conviction.

"In Judeo-Christian scripture, all creation, by God's handicraft, is deemed "good". Because "the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof" (Psalms 24:1), its gifts are intended for the benefit of all. Humans are called into covenant with their creator as stewards of life. In love, we care for the conditions of one another's well-being; in justice we attend first to the needs of the most vulnerable. When significant danger threatens, the traditional value of prudence requires us to prevent damage to the common good. All these obligations apply to the protection of future generations."

(http://ecusa.anglican.org/1829_39883_ENG_HTM.htm?menu=undefined)

The subject of this letter, global climate change, is being described as the greatest challenge of the 21st Century. Yet it is not a new issue.

Over 100 years ago, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius first predicted that carbon dioxide, from the burning of fossil fuels and the felling of trees, would accumulate in the atmosphere and bring about man-made changes in the global climate. Scientific studies since the 1950s have documented the rise in so-called "green house gases," most notably carbon dioxide and methane. As the science grew, consensus gradually formed on the reality of these changes, but debate continued on whether or not these changes were actually caused by human behavior. Today, there is a broad consensus both on the reality of climate change and the source. As Pogo told us long ago, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

In 2001, the U.N.-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that worldwide temperatures have climbed more than one degree Fahrenheit over the past century. More significantly, the panel cited "new and strong evidence that most of the observed warming of the last 50 years is attributable to human activities."

(http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/vol4/english/019.htm)

Human-induced warming and associated sea-level rises are expected to continue through the 21st Century. Secondary effects . . . include increases in rainfall rates and increased susceptibility of semi-arid regions to drought." (National Research Council, 2001).

The US Environmental Protection Agency notes: "Human activities have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the buildup of greenhouse gases - primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Fossil fuels burned to run cars and trucks, heat homes and businesses, and power factories are responsible for about 98% of US carbon dioxide emissions, 24% of methane emissions, and 18% of nitrous oxide emissions.Increased agriculture, deforestation, landfills, industrial production, and mining also contribute a significant share of emissions.(http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/climate.html).

Many scientists are saying that unless these emissions are greatly reduced, average US temperatures could rise another three to nine degrees by the end of this century - with major consequences. Sea levels will rise, flooding coastal areas. Heat waves will increase in frequency and intensity. Droughts and wildfires will occur more often. Warmer weather is expected to bring an increase in the range and number of disease-carrying insects, such as mosquitoes which in turn, may cause a greater incidence of life-threatening diseases such as West Nile virus and malaria.

Our Presiding Bishop is taking action. So should we. The environmental stewardship article in the December Cross Roads will explore actions that each parishioner of the Chapel of the Cross can take to counter global climate change.

Send items for inclusion in future "Cross Roads."
The deadline is the first Thursday of the preceeding month.

© 2004 The Chapel of the Cross