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Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... Romans 12:2

Christians and Kyoto

by P.D. Brown

The issue of global warming and the Kyoto Protocol illustrates that there are some large disagreements within the church. Citizens for Public Justice, an organization claiming a Christian outlook, vigorously supports the Kyoto Protocol.1 Similarly, the Evangelical Environmental Network has endorsed Kyoto2 as did a recent conference in England where a mix of about 70 Christian and some non-Christian environmental leaders discussed the issue.3 In every case, Christian principles are appealed to in the endorsement. Yet, other Christian and Jewish leaders (who would also appeal to Scripture) are skeptical of Kyoto4, as also, it seems, are many average Christians. So, what gives? If we hope to ever resolve these differences, we need to discuss some of our underlying assumptions.

Let me say up front that I think global warming is happening. I think it is modest and likely to continue to be modest, not as in more extreme scenarios. Yes, there is debate about whether it is really happening as well as debate over the cause (if it is happening). For now, I will leave that debate to others.

As one not enthusiastic about Kyoto, a natural question for me is, What would cause Christian groups to endorse it? Is it the science? In my experience, most Christians endorsing Kyoto don't spend a lot of time emphasizing science. Critiques citing original research or engaging in genuine critical analysis and original thought aren't very common. My sense is that this is more about particular philosophical and theological outlooks than about science.

To illustrate, consider the following: "The debate about climate change and the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is fundamentally a public justice issue. We agree with the World Council of Churches that 'social justice for all people and eco-justice for all creation must go together.'"5 "Because global climate change will harm much of Creation, hurting the less powerful (and therefore Christ) disproportionately, it is against God's will for God desires justice and shalom to reign on Earth."6 "Human induced climate change poses a great threat to the common good, especially to the poor, the vulnerable and future generations."7

Two things emerge from these quotes and further reading of these documents: 1) The driving force for rationalizing Kyoto is a perception that the protocol will advance the idea of social and eco-justice, and 2) The assumption that warming, especially if it is human induced, will cause serious harm to creation. Indeed, the debate is often framed in terms of "saving the planet."

On the first point of social and eco-justice,8 the goals of these Christian organizations seem to echo that of Christine Stewart, a Canadian Environmental Minister: "No matter if the science is all phony, there are collateral environmental benefits ... climate change [provides] the greatest chance to bring about justice and equality in the world."9 But mixing social justice with support for Kyoto is a poor idea. It can be seductively easy to substitute a nebulous concern that global warming may possibly affect the poor, for other very real consequences of enacting Kyoto. For example, when we tax our neighbor's energy use—costing them hundreds or thousands of dollars—how will that affect the poorer among us? Should it be our aim to punish what some might think is over-consumption in western society? Helping the poor and global warming are not the same issue. It is better to address a problem head on than to use an alleged problem as a pretext for some other goal.

That brings us to point two. What is the problem? Despite many speculative claims that disastrous consequences are inevitable with warming, there is surprisingly little evidence supporting this idea.10 This is not to say there won't be any consequence if warming is happening. Any change, even slight, may have an effect, but change does not equal disaster, and change is probably inevitable in any case.

Let's try a thought experiment starting from the point that God is the sovereign creator. Isaiah 45:18 says, "For this is what the Lord says—he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited." What if God, knowing full well that we humans would eventually poke around, discover, and use the energy to improve living conditions, prepared the planet through geologic history ahead of time, setting aside carbon fuel resources that would get us through our energy needs for a period of time in history?

After all, the carbon in fossil fuels was once part of the carbon cycle—it's just been out of the cycle for quite a while. Maybe adding CO2 back into the system does slightly warm the planet, and who knows—perhaps even offset a period of natural cooling that might have otherwise occurred. I don't know that this is the case, but I also see little reason for expecting disaster.

If we are considering a Christian response to all this, a rationale used to justify actions such as Kyoto should pass some threshold of certainty about the nature and level of the problem, and the solution should be targeted to solving the problem. Endorsing the Kyoto protocol seems more about being comfortable with a statist/socialist mindset than addressing causes, levels of problems, and various possible solutions if any are needed.

Having said this, there are still many reasons to reduce fossil fuel burning (with cleaner technologies) where possible, such as the reduction of air pollution (CO2 is not air pollution), cost savings, and the finite supply of fossil fuel reserves. As Christians, we should always be thinking of ways to do things better. It would be great if Christians were at the forefront of developing alternative energy sources and cleaner technologies for themselves and neighbors. I just don't think Kyoto is a good way to get there.

Footnotes:
1. Gunn, J. Getting off the growth treadmill: Kyoto revisited. The Catalyst. (Citizens for Public Justice) Volume 26, Number 1, 2003.

2. Ball, J. and G. Aeschliman. Global climate change: A guide for Christians.

3. Oxford declaration on global warming, climate scientists and Christian leaders call for action. Forum 2002, Global Climate Change.

4. E.g., see the webpage for the Interfaith Council for Environmental Stewardship.

5. Gunn, J., ibid.

6. Ball, J. and G. Aeschliman, ibid.

7. Forum 2002, ibid.

8. For a discussion of social justice please see my other article in this issue ("Social Justice?").

9. Calgary Herald, December 14, 1998, Source: www.envirotruth.org.

10. The worst case scenario regarding the latter is that the rate of warming may be accelerated above normal climate change if human caused. But we really donÕt know that much about historic climate rate changes and modeling of future change to know even that. Geologic evidence indicates past periods of both warmer and colder climates, and glacial/archeological evidence indicates colder and warmer periods within human history.

Suggested Readings:
Krajici, K. "Melting glaciers release ancient relics," Science, 296:454-456, 2002.

McFarling, U.L., "Treasures from icy tombs. Melting glaciers in the Yukon lead to finds archeologists dream of. Mummies and stone age artifacts go back about 10,000 years," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 3, 2003.

Monastersky, R. "Ancient ice reveals wild climate shifts," Science News. 144:36, 1993.

A few other claims:
Sea level rising. By most accounts sea-levels have been rising for well over one hundred years (though estimates vary widely) with apparently little known consequence if they have been—e.g. Carson, R. The sea around us, 1951; Hileman, B. Consequences of Climate Change. Chem. Eng. News, March 27, 2000; Global warming, projections for the new millennium, www.environmentaldefense.org).

Species extinction due to climate change—evidence lacking, e.g., Fleishman, E., G.T. Austin, and D.D. Murphy. Biogeography of Great Basin butterflies: revisiting patterns, paradigms, and climate change scenarios. Biol. J. Linnean Soc. 74:501-515, 2001.

Increase in diseases such as malaria, due to climate change—evidence lacking, e.g. Hay, S.I., J. Cox, D.J. Rogers, S.E. Randolph, D.I. Stern, G.D. Shanks, M.F. Myers, and R.W. Snow. Climate change and the resurgence of malaria in the East African highlands. Nature, 415:905-909, 2002.

Several considerations, including costs of climate cooling vs climate warming. Ausubel, J.H. A second look at the impacts of climate change. Amer. Scientist, 79:210-221, 1991.

Return to Volume 9, Number 1.