The Week of Creation starts on the last Sunday of September in Hungary.
During this period Churches are thinking together about energy and
climate change. They focus on what kind of role and voice they can have
in this conversation with regards to environmental efficiency and
recycling. This year, our main topic is climate justice in the light of
the parable of Nathan the prophet (1Sam 12). We have to change and
initiate change in order to ensure a livable life for the following
generations on this planet!
Combating climate change is the greatest challenge of our time. We
are looking forward to this year’s upcoming conference in Paris by
focusing on the topic of climate justice. At COP21 Paris, members of the
United Nations are to achieve a legally binding agreement on climate
with the aim of reducing global emissions in order to limit the increase
in global temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius over the
pre-industrial average. The atmosphere as a “common good” is getting
overloaded due to the increase of greenhouse gases. 90% of this is
caused by the burning of fossil fuels to generate more energy. Effects
of climate change include warming global temperature, retreat of
glaciers, permafrost and sea ice in the Arctic and rising sea levels,
amongst others. COP21 will aim to achieve a universal agreement on
climate to reduce greenhouse emissions, an agreement that is legally
binding for all countries and will enter into force in 2020. Only few
developed countries have binding targets under the second commitment
period of the Kyoto Protocol that will end in 2020.
Unfortunately, climate change has already had dramatic consequences
especially to food production of countries in dry climate zones. A
tragic example of this is the unusual drought that stroke Syria between
2006 and 2011. Syria lost 85% of its livestock. The famed fields of
Halaby peppers withered away and more than a million rural villagers
lost their farms to the drought so they crowded into overcrowded cities.
In the cities the water problem became even more dire and growing
unemployment led to protests and sustained uprisings. Even if this
climate-stressed country recovers politically, Syria is on its path to
lose nearly 50% more of its agricultural capacity by 2050. So, the
current refugee crisis is a warning of the devastation that can occur
when tenuous political situations combine with the stresses of climate
change.
It’s important for all Christians to take responsibility and say
something on this topic. When it comes to climate change, we are all
tempted to say that these events are of such magnitude that are way
beyond us and we have nothing to do with them. We often underestimate
the risk factors in climate change because of their slow nature. We are
evolved to respond more vigorously to changes and threats that are
immediate. This attitude should be reevaluated. In a similar fashion,
King David was heading to his downfall by seducing Bathsheba and killing
Urias. That is the reason why Nathan the prophet had to make him
realize: you are the man! You are the one whom the parable of the rich
and poor is about! You are the person who can be taken to task! You are
responsible for others!
If we don’t realize soon, that we have to change and initiate change
with regards to our activities that effect our climate in a negative
way, the increase of global temperature can be four degrees Celsius by
the end of the century. This temperature will have unpredictable and
catastrophic consequences for the upcoming generations.
God sends people like Nathan to us who challenge our perspective, and
turn our view from our selfish interests towards the suffering life and
needs of our brothers, so that we can look at them with compassion.
God’s saving hand does not allow us to be limited by our half-truths and
self-justifications, because these would isolate us and are the signs
of death. You don’t have to die – said Nathan, you can live, you can be
HUMAN!
Dr. Barbara Botos
Environmental policy maker, teacher of religious education
okogyulekezet.hu
Translated by Kristóf Szabó
