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Many inside and outwith the churches consider climate change to be the most far-reaching environmental problem faced by humanity in our times. The potential and actual effects on the planet's sensitive physical systems of land, sea and air, on the eco-systems and species of the world, and on human communities and large and small, arguably exceed any other major risk. The effects include gradual sea level rises, significantly increased storms and extremes of weather, a shifting of temperate regions towards the poles and of hotter regions to what are now temperate. You might joke that in a place like Scotland, a bit more warmth would be nice, but if it also brought more rain and high winds, it mightn't be so funny. If you were in Bangladesh or a low lying Pacific island, it could become a matter of life and death - to have more violent tropical storms and the sea level rise a metre or so.
No one can say that floods in Southern Scotland, hurricane Katrina or any other single event is 'caused by climate change', but the pattern of increase in such events in both frequency and intensity is consistent with what is expected from a human-induced global temperature increase. Much will happen inexorably because of the changes we have already caused. On current predictions 80% of the land area of the Marshall Islands simply won't exist by about the middle of the century.
As always, it seems it is people in the Third World who look likely to bear much of the worst effects of what is still largely caused by the excessive consumption of coal, oil and gas by us in the rich "west". For God's sake - because it is God's planet - our fellow creatures given to our care, for those people and communities already caught up in potentially devastating changes, and for the sake of the world our children will inherit from us, we have to act now to bring the changes back within reasonably sustainable levels.
The UK policy is to opt for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020, and in Scotland the First Minister has set a target that 40% of Scotland's electricity should be renewable also by 2020, but note that electricity accunts for only about 15% of Scotland's total energy. The Government has accepted the target for emission reductions should be 60% by 2050 if we are to bring climate change under control. The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's seminal report shows that for Britain to meet these targets the Government will have to introduce radical measures, using all appropriate means to achieve greater energy efficiency and energy saving by domestic users, industry and transport (where energy use is growing most rapidly).
There are many opportunities for reducing emissions through increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Such changes would be good for the environment, human health and the economy, and would also help reduce acid rain and smog. Energy efficiency ought to be the cheapest option. In some areas steps have been taken, but so much more remains that must be done if we are to have a hope of making serious inroads into the problem of global warming. Nothing like enough incentives and encouragements are given - to businesses, the public sector or domestic users. To achieve the savings we are going to have to achieve, a lot of additional help is needed to those in poorly heated and insulated housing, for whom "fuel poverty" represents a serious problem, especially in Scotland.
A change in attitude is needed by us all. But energy tends to be a small part of our budget, and if measures don't pay back within 2 years, we tend not to bother. Because we can't see the damage we are causing and it doesn't affect our pocket noticeably, we tend to be lazy. Morally, there is no other choice than for each of us to assume more responsibility for the implications of the way we consume resources. Not only do the signatories of this petition call on both Government and industry to recognise the need to look after the global environment, but they commit themselves to doing something about it, and accepting the consequences. In the long run, the decisions required we believe will enhance our quality of life.
This is an obligation common to all people, but Christians have a special responsibility because God has entrusted to us the care of His creation, which He has made, redeemed and sustains. He has appointed us stewards or caretakers of His world; we are accountable to him for our stewardship. It is right that Christians should take a lead in this matter as part of our calling to discipleship.
This page has been produced by the Society Religion and Technology Project of the Church of Scotland. For more about our work on other issues, see our Other SRT Project pages, our SRT Publications List, or our On-line SRT Newsletter.
We'd also welcome any comments you may have. We don't claim to have said the last word!
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Dr.Donald M.Bruce,Return to Contents
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