I’m sorry if it seems that I’m often sounding Cassandra-like with predictions about the looming climate crisis in the making worldwide, but I feel I’m in good company with two of the leading figures of Christianity: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
As I mentioned in my last column, I would like to focus on some of the climate change statements made by Patriarch Bartholomew at the University of Notre Dame last month. In the meantime, a rather dire report was released with the annual Artic Report Card for 2021.
The scientists who released the report said that the rising temperatures unfolding worldwide are affecting the Artic crown of the planet. Pollution from burning fossil fuels, as well as other human activities throughout the world, has raised global temperatures more than 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit). These changes may sound minor to most of us, but scientists warn that it has already shown its devastating effects in melting and undermining the planet’s North and South Poles, producing deep cracks in the permafrost. This continued and ever-escalating melt of the polar caps portends that the ice shelf could very well collapse within the next three to five years.
In the report, scientists warn that this rapid melt of the polar caps will create ripple effects on the planet, such as rising sea levels, more volatile weather patterns and storms, and altered ecosystems. Sea ice works as the planet’s air-conditioning system. It reflects light from the sun and, in so doing, reflects a huge amount of solar radiation back into space. With less ice reflecting this heat radiation, the planet warms, oceans rise and climate changes in a negative fashion.
Rick Spinrad, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said of this melting effect, “We have a narrow window of time to avoid very costly, deadly and irreversible climate impacts!”
Patriarch Bartholomew helped to put some of this urgency within a spiritual context in his address at the University of Notre Dame last month. Before receiving an honorary doctorate from the university, university president Father John Jenkins, CSC, welcomed the patriarch saying, “The Ecumenical Patriarch is celebrated around the world for his commitment to interfaith dialogue. … Patriarch Bartholomew is especially revered for his prophetic voice on the environment, which equates love of the creator with devotion to his creation.”
In his address, Patriarch Bartholomew – also known as the “Green Patriarch” and who is the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide – said, “For human beings to destroy God’s creation, degrade the integrity of the earth and contaminate the planet’s waters, land and air – all of these are sins!”
He continued, “It is an important but humbling lesson that the Church has learned during this time: Namely, that religion must function and serve in connection with – and never in isolation from – science. Faith alone will not overcome the problems of our time, but the challenges of our time will certainly not be overcome without faith. Research and medicine are gifts from God; they supply answers to the question ‘how?’ Faith and theology are also gifts from God; they provide responses to the question ‘why?’”
Patriarch Bartholomew explained that “this interconnectedness reminds us that the earth unites us beyond any doctrinal, social or cultural differences. The power of ecumenical dialogue lies in opening up beyond ourselves and our own interests, beyond our confessions or religions. It means learning to speak the language of care and compassion. And creation care brings us divided, insulated believers before a common task that we must face together.”
Protecting the planet from global warming must be a joint effort, for as the Arctic Report Card warns us, “The Arctic is tethered to societies worldwide through a myriad of exchanges – the natural circulation of air, ocean and contaminants, the migration of animals and invasive species, as well as human-driven transport of people, pollution, goods and natural resources. The warming of the Arctic is also allowing for greater marine access as sea ice loss permits ships to move deeper into Arctic waters,” to our peril!
May we heed the warnings of religion, science and governments as we work together to save our planet!
Father Joseph D. Wallace is diocesan director of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs and pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Atco.
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