Christian Living - Impacting on Climate Change for the Better
Author: Bishop Tony
A Very Great Challenge
If there was one thing that featured greatly in the recent Lambeth Conference of Bishops from around the world - far more than the topics of homosexuality or women bishops - it was concern for the environment and climate change. A 
Bishop from Mozambique spoke of the effect of rising temperatures in increasing malaria in his country where thousands of children are dying of this disease. Another Bishop told how
Eskimos in the far North are losing their ancestral lands as they disappear under the sea. Others gave graphic accounts of terrible floods and droughts. The Bishops were addressed by scientists, who have clearly shown that our profligate consumption of the earth resources is destroying the ability of the earth to sustain not only biodiversity, but even the human race itself. This is what the Bishops have said in response:
The destruction of the environment is a spiritual issue. Some of the symptoms of human sin include selfishness, greed, consumerism and overindulgence.
Some scientists challenge us to reduce our carbon footprints by 80% by 2050. Others say we must work towards a reduction of carbon emissions by 90% by 2030. These are tough targets and require a good deal of sacrifice by our greedy western world. The Old Testament Prophets didn’t temper their talk with platitudes to make tough challenges more acceptable. They called on people to cease to do evil and to do justice - nothing more and nothing less. In the New Testament too, Christians are called to live a simple life. Live more simply that others may simple live, as a former Dean of Bristol once said.
Time for God’s Creation
Although we hear a great deal about climate change all the time now, I think our general response is still lukewarm. Harvest Festivals are times to give our thanks for all the good things we enjoy - food and all who grow and process it, the beauty and biodiversity of the countryside, and the shelter and warmth of our houses and clothing. But this harvest season is also a time seriously to take to heart the challenges now before us. Church leaders have called on us to use the period from 1st September until 4th October as an opportunity to put the environment at the heart of their worship. The period incorporates Harvest Festivals and concludes on 4th October with St Franics’ Day. The Archbishop of Canterbury has said:
Every Sunday in the creed, Christians confess their faith in God, who created the world. It is his gift. As stewards of that gift, each of us has a responsibility, both to God and to the generations to come, to ensure that this remains a sustainable world.
A Practical Suggestion
One thing that every household can do is to monitor the amount of electricity, oil and water they use, and their car mileage, day by day, or at least month by month, and see what difference any saving measures they make. Such measures of course include switching off machinery not in use, cycling and walking, not buying or consuming more than we really need, not overfilling kettles and baths, or underloading washing machines, and hanging out the washing to dry! Many think now that, in order to meet the challenge, we ought if possible to adopt some kind of rationing system of our carbon emissions, but we can at least begin by exercising real restraint upon ourselves.
Question
What do people think a suitable ration of electricity, oil or gas, mileage, water, and general expenditure (because every item we buy has a carbon footprint) per person per day? I would be very interested to hear.
Tony.