A United Methodist Insight Column
A new report came out Feb. 15 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on the rate of sea level rise around the world, which is much more than previously anticipated. According to an article by Christina Nunez and Staff in the National Geographic magazine:
“As humans continue to pour greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, oceans have tempered the effect. The world's seas have absorbed more than 90 percent of the heat from these gases, but it’s taking a toll on our oceans: 2021 set a new record for ocean heating.
“Rising seas is one of those climate change effects. Average sea levels have swelled over 8 inches (about 23 cm) since 1880, with about three of those inches gained in the last 25 years. Every year, the sea rises another .13 inches (3.2 mm.) New research published on February 15, 2022 shows that sea level rise is accelerating and projected to rise by a foot by 2050.
“That translates into as much sea level rise in the next 30 years as occurred over the last century, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s latest technical data, which updates 2017 projections with the most precise estimates yet.
“Rick Spinrad, the NOAA administrator, called the findings ‘historic,’ and warned that the projected rise will occur regardless, even if carbon emissions are drastically cut. In the United States, the most vulnerable populations live on the East and Gulf Coasts, where damaging flooding is predicted to occur 10 times more often in 2050 than it does today.” (See NOAA’s Facebook post with links to its report.)
Right away this news makes me think of the Louisiana Annual Conference, which has endured hurricane after hurricane these past few years. Louisiana is still struggling to recover from flooding and extreme weather damage; entire church buildings have been demolished, and the threat continues to grow (see above map from Climate Central).
Pinellas sea level rise
This Climate Central map shows areas around Tampa Bay and the Gulf Coast in Florida that would be affected by sea level rise by 2030. (Climate Central Map)
In another example, I grew up in the St. Petersburg area on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The predicted amount of sea level rise would cover a lot of the communities where family and friends still reside (see map from Climate Central at right).
Is your church near the coast? Do you have loved ones in the path of sea level rise? The NOAA report tells us we don’t have time to waste. What we do about greenhouse gas emissions in these next few years will impact this environmental threat.
Faith leaders seek public actions on climate
Faith leaders around the world are exerting their influence on public policy in the wake of recent developments in both U.S. and international political spheres.
The Faith for Earth Dialogue, a movement related to the United Nations Environment Program, opened Feb. 21 with some impressive participation, according to a newsletter from its director, Iyad Abumoghli. Opening day statistics:
- 490 Registered Participants coming from 76 countries and 260 cities
- 55 religions and congregations
- 49.5% female participants.
- 180 speakers in 24 sessions of 36 hours of dialogue
- NGOs and FBOs represent 51% of participants (that’s Non-Governmental Organizations and Faith-Based Organizations, in case you did know).
- 28 member states
- 10% UN staff, 14% Academia, and 6% private sector.
- Social media reach got to 12 million people on the first day.
chaiyapruek2520 Getty Images/iStockphoto
Ocean plastic pollution
Faith leaders are calling on world ciizens and governments to reduce plastic pollution in oceans. (iStock Photo by chaiyapruek2520)
The faith dialogue is being held in advance of the UN Environment Program’s Assembly scheduled Feb. 28 – March 2 in Nairobi, Kenya. Leaders of faith-based organizations have prepared a statement, “Stop Plastic Pollution and Restore Our Earth,” that some 35 participants have endorsed thus far. The statement will be presented for action during the environmental assembly. Endorsements from the public are welcome.
Meanwhile, Brian Roewe from National Catholic Reporter’s “Earth Beat” reports:
“Nearly 100 faith leaders have called on President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to not abandon Democrats' sprawling Build Back Better agenda and its hundreds of billions of dollars to combat climate change, saying "this is a moment for courage" as the bill has stalled and fallen behind other legislative priorities.
"’We cannot delay enacting the Build Back Better Act. This vital legislation will protect our climate and put our nation on the path of climate justice, environmental justice, and intergenerational justice,’ a coalition of 86 faith leaders of national, state and local faith-based organizations and congregations wrote in a letter Feb. 14 addressed to Biden, Schumer and the full U.S. Senate.
“Signatories to the letter, the bulk from Christian and Jewish traditions as well as numerous national and regional interfaith groups, said they represent millions of people of faith and hundreds of thousands of faith communities.
"’We share a moral call to care for our common home, God's creation, and to love our neighbors, both here and around the world,’ the faith leaders said. ‘Many of our communities have experienced the severe repercussions of climate change: wildfires, superstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and increasingly-intense weather phenomena that cause damage, injury, and loss of life. We are running out of time to avoid even more serious consequences.’"
Have you checked lately on what your congregation and annual conference are doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? And have you contacted your federal representatives about the creation care aspects of President Biden’s legislation? There’s still time to make a difference.
Here’s a new idea: the ‘climate shadow’
While we’ve come to think about our “carbon footprint” in regard to climate change, writer Emma Pattee has coined a new idea that she thinks is more inclusive of the full effect we have on the world around us.
Writing for TheMIC.com, Ms. Pattee suggests:
“Enter: the ‘climate shadow,’ a concept that I created to help each of us visualize how the sum of our life’s choices influence the climate emergency. Think of your climate shadow as a dark shape stretching out behind you. Everywhere you go, it goes too, tallying not just your air conditioning use and the gas mileage of your car, but also how you vote, how many children you choose to have, where you work, how you invest your money, how much you talk about climate change, and whether your words amplify urgency, apathy, or denial.
“The power of your climate shadow is that, unlike a carbon footprint, it includes actions that defy easy calculation (which, as Greta’s #FridaysforFuture strike showed us, almost all high-impact actions do). I have a friend who decided not to have a child due to climate concerns, and another who helps with our local utility company’s green energy program. These choices wouldn’t be counted in a measurement of their carbon footprints, but they would factor into their climate shadows. The climate shadow also includes contagious behaviors, like installing solar panels, giving up flying, or talking about climate change in everyday conversation.
This is a frightening, yet exciting, concept. I think it could lead to the kind of behavior that the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin called a “seamless garment” of Christian ethics. I’m certainly going to sketch out my “climate shadow” in future. What about yours?
Media Mentions as of Feb. 21, 2022
Super Bowl rivalry wins for hunger relief – West Ohio Conference
Church to cover funerals for plane-crash victims – Moorhead City Journal
This week in Christian history: Hustler v. Falwell, UMC vote | Church & Ministries News – Christian Post
Henderson County nonprofits, programs receive $48K in grant funding - blueridgenow.com
Iowa's United Methodist Church issues directive permitting same-sex marriage, gay clergy ... – The Gazette
Liberia: United Methodists Church Appoint Special Envoy to Tackle 'Zogoes' - allAfrica.com (Editor’s note: “zogoes” refers to at-risk youths)
Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church Emergency Prepared Group arranges Wildland Fire Risk ... – FOX21 News Colorado
Our spiritual leaders need to step up to heal our political divisions - Religion News Service
Course explores communicating amid change – United Methodist Communications
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.