2022 Drought
Climate Central Graphic
A United Methodist Insight Column
Instead of a white Christmas or a blue Christmas, parts of the United States is looking at the possibility of a dry Christmas because of unrelenting drought while others are still coping with the effects of recent deluge.
Fortunately, winter is off to a promising start in California at least, according to The Washington Post. From a recent newsletter: "Parts of the Sierra Nevada have more than double the expected snowpack for this time of year, and another big storm could arrive this weekend. This is good news: California has had three years of extreme drought, and mountain snow is a key source of water. However, much more rain and snow are needed.
Our colleagues at Climate Central have put out some new graphics about precipitation (see accompanying illustrations) that show just how dry the western half of the United States really is. Here are some of Climate Central's key concepts:
- In 2022, some parts of the U.S. received far more precipitation than normal, while other parts received far less than normal, contributing to widespread drought.
- Much of the West, Southwest, Northwest, and central and southern Plains—comprising 42.5% of the contiguous U.S.—have experienced 40 or more consecutive weeks of drought in 2022.
- Meanwhile, other parts of the country have been far wetter than normal during 2022—including the Northern Rockies and Plains, the Ohio Valley region, and much of the Southeast.
- Year to date precipitation accumulation charts compare 2022 precipitation to the record wettest and driest years in 240 U.S. locations.
2022 Precipitation Accumulation
How are extremes of drought or precipitation affecting your congregation and surrounding community?
UN biodiversity conference offers insights
The United Nations biodiversity conference, COP15 (not to be confused with the big climate conference COP27) kicked off Dec. 7 in Montreal, reports The Conversation. The website offers a series a series of stories on this conference that bring the issue of biodiversity and species extinction into sharper focus for faith-based advocates.
Among the resources recommended by Insight's partner group, Covering Climate Now: seek out local Indigenous people for guidance on how to lessen or reverse species annihilation where you are. Says CCNow's newsletter, "Indigenous peoples who hold traditional knowledge about living sustainably with the land are a key authority. Roughly 80% of the world’s biodiversity survives on land inhabited by Indigenous peoples, who have been historically persecuted and displaced. Ethically learning from Indigenous communities will be essential to halting and reversing biodiversity loss."
“Humanity has become a weapon of mass extinction… with a million species at risk of disappearing forever,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the conference's opening. “Defeat[ing] climate change is only possible if at the same time, we… reverse the biodiversity loss.”
What was that about being stewards of the earth?
Media Mentions as of Dec. 8, 2022
Former Mt. Bethel UMC members start new Methodist church – East Cobb News
Indiana Judge Backs a Religious Right to Abort – Religion News Service
With Race in Mind, Christians Reconsider Language of Dark and Light at Advent – Religion News Service
On climate change, younger US evangelicals more concerned than older ones – Pew Research Center
249 churches disaffiliate from the NC United Methodist Conference, including 3 in Raleigh –CBS 17
Pittsburgh holds candlelight vigil in honor of Club Q shooting victims - 90.5 WESA
TEXODUS: 439 Texas Churches Leave United Methodist Church as LGBTQ Schism Unfolds ... The Christian Broadcasting Network
Cooking Matters at Highland Valley UMC – Arkansas Annual Conference
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. Email the Editor for permission to reproduce this content elsewhere.