Requiem for a Species, Clive Hamilton, How to Cool the Planet, Jeff Goodell, Keeping God's Earth, Toly & Block
There has been a multiplying of books about climate change, and at first I was reluctant to read them. I felt that I'd heard it already, and all the political machinations around carbon taxes and Copenhagen had simply alienated me. I felt that if I just did what I could to minimise my carbon footprint, the rest would take care of itself.
That makes me a test case for Clive Hamilton's thesis. The Australian ethics scholar argues that climate change is not just a result of coal-fired power plants and too many cars; but global and societal forces: the fetish for growth as the solution to every problem; and the linked issue of insatiable consumption; and overarching all, a misplaced optimism in human ability and the capability of technology to overcome problems.
He provides the scientific evidence for how severe the threat is, and then explains why the world's response is inadequate. He identifies several common responses to overwhelming threat: denial (the refusal to accept what is happening), distraction (switching off, pleasure-seeking), distancing (targets set in the future) and to blame others (its America's problem, or volcanoes, or cows…).
Even my focus on personal efforts is inadequate, the problem is way too huge, and the changes needed much too significant. Moreover, Hamilton argues that unless the world confronts the lies of growth and consumption, then any efforts are token.
It is necessary to experience the despair and find new meaning, then to act.
Hamilton sounds very close to a Biblical viewpoint on many things. The Bible also rejects the greed of unfettered growth and consumerism, as idolatry. The Bible would also suggest that internal change precedes external change.
Our human response to revelation is often denial, distraction, distancing or blame. A Christian response to awareness of sin is embracing the despair of our sin, turning to Christ and gives us hope, finding meaning and responding.
However, Hamilton points out that Christians have been part of the problem. He points to two common responses: that God will fix the problem, or that the rapture is going to happen and the Christians will escape the problem.
Those responses are dealt with in the compilation by Toly and Block. They are revealed as flawed rather than Biblical responses to the climate change crisis.
US journalist Jeff Goodell in How to Cool the Planet falls into the trap Hamilton mentions of misplaced optimism in human ingenuity and the potential of technology. Goodell talks about the possibility of geoengineering to solve the problem of climate change, by reversing its effects. Geoengineering involves trying to cool the planet, by building a machine to scrub carbon dioxide or other such methods.
Goodell admits that the dangers of geoengineering are that interfering with nature could have unforeseen consequences; that it could distract from reducing carbon emissions; and that it perpetuates the faulty thinking that caused the problem.
Goodell also is critical of Christians who have interfered with addressing the problem. He explains that "faith in a higher power can also be an excuse to disregard the importance of our relationship with nature and lead to a wilful ignorance of the laws of physics." He points to the image of gardening and to the idea of humans and nature working together to create order out of chaos. Ironically, the image of the gardener is also used in the conclusion of Keeping God's Earth, by the appropriately named Douglas Green.
Green names God as the Divine Gardener, humans as God's Vice-Gardeners, waiting for the Gardener-King of the New Creation; but exercising our protection and care in anticipation of when this earth will finally be transformed.
Keeping God's Earth is a collection of essays examining the global environment from a Biblical perspective, and is published by Intervarsity Press' Academic division.
As Green's essay hinted at, the eschatological dimension features prominently in several essays in this book. As does a Christian prerogative to speak into the crisis. Authors make a compelling case for a concerted Christian response because of the biblical mandate, humanitarian concern, as well as eschatological hope.
In a powerful contribution, Old Testament and ethics scholar Christopher Wright makes four points:
1. Creation care is an urgent issue
2. Creation care is our priestly and kingly role in relation to the earth
3. Creation care is a prophetic opportunity for Christians
4. Creation care embodies a biblical balance of compassion and justice.
In some ways it is a pity that Christians have not spoken out more; since Clive Hamilton has the prophetic voice on this subject, and is urging for fundamental change in thinking and behaviour.
As Christians we need to be more organised and articulate and passionate; connect more deeply again with the garden God gave us to play in and care for; to be part of the transformational design team of the New Earth.
