Smokestacks
G7 countries agreed June 30, 2022 to provide finance support for exploration and development of fossil fuels in reaction to the shortages and high prices caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Sam Larussa/Unsplash)
A United Methodist Insight Column
It has been a bombshell of a week, starting with last Friday's Supreme Court ruling overturning the constitutional right to abortion enshrined in the 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision and culminating this week with more government actions that have undermined efforts to stave off the climate crisis. Here are some "lowlights" that faith-based activists will want to note:
For The Guardian's "Down to Earth" newsletter, Fiona Harvey writes: "G7 countries agreed at Schloss Elmau in Germany that they would continue to offer finance for the exploration of fossil fuel reserves, giving a green light that is directly contrary to expert advice. Last year, the International Energy Agency warned that no new fossil fuel exploration and development could take place from this year on if the world was to limit global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, in line with scientific advice and with the resolutions made at the UN Cop26 climate summit last November in Glasgow."
The decision was blamed in part on Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine, which has left Europe and other regions with a gas supply crunch and sharply rising prices. "G7 countries want to exploit fossil fuel resources in other countries, particularly the developing world, to ease that crunch and bring down prices. Developing countries are also keen for this finance. But new exploration will only lock in high carbon dioxide emissions from these fossil fuel resources for years to come, long after the immediate consequences of the Ukraine war have passed."
Harvey quotes Tasneem Essop, executive director of the Climate Action Network: “The G7 countries have once again proved that they are morally bankrupt and have no real intention to solve the climate crisis and take responsibility for this crisis caused by their disproportionate use and relentless support for fossil fuels. It is simply selfish for high emitters to continue to squander the remaining, and rapidly diminishing, carbon budget beyond their fair share with their use of fossil fuels.”
The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to climate care in the United States by stripping the Environmental Protection Agency of its power to regulate carbon emissions.
In the newsletter of 350.org, the climate advocacy organization co-founded by environmentalist and United Methodist layman Bill McKibben, its current CEO May Boeve said: "The Supreme Court sided with the fossil fuel industry to strip the EPA of the power to do its job: protecting the environment and our communities from a growing climate crisis. By limiting the EPA’s authority to regulate pollution from the energy sector, which accounts for a quarter of the U.S. emissions that are contributing to climate change, the Supreme Court is putting our environment, our climate, and our health in danger."
Also see Bill McKibben's June 30 article in The New Yorker magazine: The Supreme Court Tries to Overrule the Climate: A destructive decision in West Virginia v. E.P.A.
But there's still encouraging news
Against the backdrop of these momentous national and global decisions, the ecumenical organization Creation Justice Ministries reports June went well for the annual observance of Ocean Month. CJM's ocean justice associate Helen Smith writes:
- "Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) 2022 left us with lots to think about and act on. Check out the post-CHOW 2022 blog here.
- "On June 8th, World Ocean Day, the Biden-Harris Administration made an incredible announcement including action on conserving America's deepest Atlantic Canyon, cutting plastic pollution and creating the Nation's first Ocean Climate Action Plan. Read the fact sheet here."
Climate activists say they're pinning their hopes on President Biden's power of executive action to fill the gap created by the Supreme Court's decision on the EPA.
Media Mentions as of June 30, 2022
Cobb Interfaith Habitat Coalition hammers first nails in 22nd annual Home - Yahoo News
A brief history of Knoxville's Black and white churches by the numbers | Opinion – Knoxville News Sentinel
Closing of Methodist church is end of an era in Southwick (Commentary) - MassLive.com
Exeter United Methodist Church closes, sites declining attendance - The Sun-Gazette
Group seeks Jesus while helping Gaston County people with home repairs – Gaston Gazette
Queer clergy: 'True protest' needed for LGBTQ rights. Colorful marches haven't gotten us far enough – The Columbus Dispatch
Letter: Methodist Church hasn't split, though some churches left | The Republic News
Mapletown United Methodist Church rises from ashes | News | observer-reporter.com
Free food to be distributed at Shawnee UMC on July 30 - The Lima News
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.