Global Warming: Are We Reaching a "Tipping Point"?

by Jaydee Hanson

Signs of global warming, long debated by scientists, are appearing with such frequency that communities across the world are asking whether global warming is causing the radical changes in the weather they are experiencing.

Ice on lakes in Maine, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York and Alaska are melting earlier each spring than in the past, according to a review of U.S. government data. 1

The United States had its warmest January on record, with an average temperature of 39.5 °F, which is 8.5° F (4.7°C) above the 1895-2005 mean of 31.0° F, according to NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. 2

Africa could be faced with 25 percent less water by the end of the century because of global warming, scientists have warned in a new report published in the journal Science. The research shows that geographical factors will amplify changes in rainfall patterns resulting from climate change. 3

Viewed as separate data sets, earlier springs in the U.S., warmer winters, or more droughts in Africa may not indicate climate change, but the large amounts of data from the entire world — reviewed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for its reports to the U.N. — suggest radical climate change. More than 2000 climate scientists from around the world must reach consensus before the IPCC reports can be released. (The last report was released in 2001.) The IPCC is now reviewing much more data and is preparing a report, to be published in 2007, that will change its analysis from "humans are contributing to climate change," to saying that "human activity is the major cause of climate change."

IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri said recently that the research since 2001 indicates a stronger link between human emissions of greenhouse gases and rising temperatures: "If one looks at just the scientific evidence that's been collected it's certainly becoming far more compelling. There is no question about it." 4

Some researchers believe it is already too late to avoid the consequences of global warming, but that prompt action will keep it from becoming much worse. The World Resources Institute warns that human-fueled global warming has reached a "tipping point," according to a new survey of scientific research, that found warming would continue even if greenhouse gas emissions halted immediately. The rate of warming would slow, but global temperatures would continue their upward trend.

"It would keep on warming even though we have stopped the cause, which is greenhouse gases from the combustion of fossil fuels," David Jhirad of the Washington-based World Resources Institute said on March 16, 2006. He referred to a report released by the nonprofit institute that analyzed research reports on climate change for 2005.

"Taken collectively, they suggest that the world may well have moved past a key physical tipping point," the institute writer noted. Jhirad said there were actually two tipping points. The first is that there is no doubt human activities cause global warming; a more physical tipping point is that the effects of global warming are evident now. 5

What Can Be Done?

Fortunately, most of the changes we must make to slow global climate change do not require new technologies, but rather the will to make needed changes.

The ecumenical community began working on climate change issues in 1988,6 but the basic ethical issues related to climate change are ones that the church has long experience with. Poor persons and fragile parts of God's creation are already the most affected by climate change. Human-induced climate change already limits access to clean drinking water, because of more prolonged droughts and floods resulting from extreme weather events. These events pollute wells and overwhelm water treatment facilities; rising sea levels cause salt water to intrude into the fresh water supplies of many islands. With water being so essential for life, climate change is a very real peril to the viability of many poor communities around the world. Church development agencies have long focused on providing water supplies to poor communities. Climate change is making that job more difficult. (This year's focus of the One Great Hour of Sharing is water.)

In 1999, The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) called upon the U.S. Senate to ratify the Kyoto Protocol to the Climate Convention, and reminded the President and Congress of the "special moral responsibility" of the United States as the leading emitter of greenhouse gases to lead the world in reducing emissions and to assist poor countries to achieve energy sufficiency in responsible ways. 7

The same resolution went on to urge Congress to devise, fund, and implement plans that aim well beyond the inadequate targets of the Kyoto Protocol to achieve major improvements in energy conservation and alternatives to fossil fuels.

In the last seven years, the Senate has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol and Congress has not passed any major climate legislation, despite repeated efforts to do so. Sen. Domenici (R-NM), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has said that he does not expect Congress to adopt any comprehensive legislation this session either. Still, the Committee has solicited views from industry, environmental, and religious groups on how to draft legislation that would set the first ever limits on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. More than 150 groups commented by the Committee's March 15 deadline.8 A hearing based on the comments was held on April 4, but no legislative action is expected this year.

This year, however, is a good time for individuals to take advantage of federal energy conservation provisions passed last year. The Energy Policy Act of 2005, which generally promoted fossil fuels and nuclear energy, also contains tax credits for energy conservation related to installation of storm doors, storm windows, insulation, energy efficient appliances and solar water heating.9 The Presbyterian Church has a program to help your congregation become a better energy steward, which will greatly help reduce gases that cause global warming.10

The World Council of Churches has asked U.S. and European churches to take special responsibility to educate public officials of the problems that global warming is already causing to low-lying coastal areas and island states. Youth from the Pacific traveled to the World Council of Churches General Assembly to help delegates understand that climate change literally imperils their future by rising waters and stronger hurricanes/typhoons. They are urging nations (like the U.S.) that produce most of the carbon dioxide and methane pollution to acknowledge their/our special responsibility for the effects of climate change and take action immediately because the Pacific people are suffering and crying right now.11

A Spiritual Declaration on Climate Change

As we prepare to educate our congregations and public officials about the urgent need for action, we must ground ourselves spiritually. This declaration, written by participants at the largest ecumenical gather- ing on climate change —  the ecumenical participants at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Montreal, Canada — calls us to listen to the Earth and with God's help to change.

We hear the call of the Earth

We believe that caring for life on Earth is a spiritual commitment.

People and other species have the right to life unthreatened by human greed and destructiveness.

Pollution, particularly from the energy-intensive wealthy industrialized countries, is warming the atmosphere. A warmer atmosphere is leading to major climate change. The poor and vulnerable in the world and future generations will suffer the most.

We commit ourselves to help reduce the threat of climate change through actions in our own lives, pressure on governments and industries, and standing in solidarity with those most affected by climate change.

We pray for God's help and spiritual support in responding to the call of the earth. AMEN.12

March 13th Letter to the Senate Energy Committee

Dear Senator,

We write to you concerning the growing challenge of global warming. The danger has grown, requiring us as theologians, pastors, and religious leaders to speak out and act with new urgency. Your colleagues, Senators Domenici and Bingaman, recently shared a "white paper" further explaining the ideas behind their strategies to address global warming.

As theologians and religious leaders, we want to share what we consider the most pressing issues and most demanding questions on global warming. As an American Baptist 1989 statement states, We are obliged to relate to Earth as God's creation "in ways that sustain life on the planet, provide for the [basic] needs of all humankind, and increase justice." It is our hope that you will act with speed and determination to address the issue of global warming with the effort, resources, and moral weight it demands.

Moral imperative: As Christians we are called to fulfill our vocation as moral images of God and to be reflections of divine love and justice charged to "serve and preserve" the Garden (Genesis 2:15). Global warming threatens the fabric of creation including God's children and future generations. For us, as religious leaders and theologians, such a comprehensive threat creates a moral imperative to respond in comprehensively meaningful way.

Leadership: We are bound together as a global community in which we bear responsibility for one another. The threat of global warming must be addressed with cooperative action at all levels-local, regional, national and international. As children of God as well as citizens of the United States we yearn to see leadership from the United States. While there is much to be grateful for as individuals, congregations, mayors, states, and some businesses take steps to address global warming, we are dismayed by the lack of national leadership. We urge you to consider the need for such national leadership.

Prevention: Global warming is real and is one of the defining forces of our time. Our first concern, borne of our care and stewardship of God's gracious gift of creation, is to prevent further degradation. To avoid damage, dislocation, and disruption for all of God's creation, including our children's children and their grandchildren, we must ask you to seriously consider policy and regulation that significantly cuts greenhouse gas emissions and specifically carbon dioxide.

Economic justice: As Christians we are called to create right relationships, both social and ecological, to ensure for all members of the Earth community the conditions required for their flourishing. As children of Christ we are called in the gospel not only to care for the least among but to add our voice to theirs to remind worldly powers that compassion, mercy, justice and above all love are the lessons of our faith. While, for example, there may be minimally higher heating, cooling, and transportation costs, these are dwarfed by the impacts they will if adequate measures are not taken to address global warming. Additionally, a nation as wealthy and blessed as ours can surely design policy and regulation that prevents those living in poverty from bearing the economic burden of addressing global warming.

Adaptation: Our beliefs call on us to also consider the impacts that not addressing global warming may have on those living in poverty and to urge you to prepare, plan, and legislate accordingly. The impacts of global warming are being felt around the world and here at home. People, and the whole of creation, will need help dealing with damage we have wrought and the disruption we have caused. Money will be needed to help communities- from farmers to endangered species - by assisting with the adaptation that will be necessary given the amount of global warming that is already happening.

Senator, we understand that many demands are placed upon your time and energy. We hope, with all the conviction of our faith, that you will turn a significant amount of time and energy this Congressional session, this year, and in the future to addressing the issue of global warming which stands to irrevocably alter our environment, our economies, and our cultures.

Sincerely,

Rev. Neddy Astillo, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Rev. Karen Baker-Fletcher, Associate Professor of Theology, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, Orthodox Christian theologian and author

Rev. Dr. John Cobb, Professor Emeritua, Claremont School of Theology

Dr. Carol Johnston, Associate Professor of Theology and Culture and Director of Lifelong Theological Education at Christian Theological Seminary

Bill McKibben, author and scholar-in-residence, Middlebury College

Dr. M. Douglas Meeks, Cal Turner Chancellor Professor of Theology and Wesleyan Studies, The Divinity School, Vanderbilt University

Dr. Esther Menn, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Dr. Larry L. Rasmussen, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics Union Theological Seminary

Rev. David Rhoads, Professor of New Testament, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Rev. Paul Santmire, Teaching Theologian, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America