Is the Threat of Global Warming Real?

There are many different views on Global Warming these days. It is a political issue, as well as a religious issue. We know that political parties disagree - the republicans (and other conservatives) do not believe in it and the democrats (and other liberals) do believe in it. Most of the time, it is thought that Christians also do not believe in Global Warming. Christians are thought to not be concerned with destroying the earth by using up all of the fuel. This however is not true. There are some Christians who are both religious and concerned with Global Warming. So is Global Warming really a threat?

There are many things that attribute to the fear of Global Warming. One scare is that with India and China growing both in economics and industrialism, Global Warming will be a very big problem. One study says that by the year 2025, India's greenhouse emissions could rise seventy percent. The same study says that China's total electricity demand will rise an estimated 2,600 gig watts by 2050. That would be like adding four 300-megawatt power plants every week for the next 45 years. ("The Impact of Asia's Giants" Global Issues: Annual Editions 07/08)

There are many scientific studies that point to Global Warming being a real threat. The Summary for Policymakers (SPM) has provided the current state of understanding of the climate and the projected future and uncertainties. One observation is that the global average surface temperature has increased about .6 degrees Celsius during the past century. Also, the Summary for Policymakers agrees that temperatures have risen during the past four decades in the lowest eight kilometers. They also have found that snow and ice extent have decreased, global average sea level has risen and ocean heat content has increased, and emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols due to human activities continue to alter the atmosphere in ways that are expected, among other observations. ("Issue Eight: Is the Threat of Global Warming Real?" Taking Sides: Clashing View on Global Issues. 4th edition)

There are also those who do not think Global Warming is a real threat. Some people think the studies from scientist that are proving Global Warming is political. They think that the liberal politicians are putting money into these kinds of studies, and scientists who want money will gear their findings to be toward Global Warming issues. If the scientist were to find Global Warming not to be a threat, there would be no more money. There have been studies also to prove against Global Warming. Peter Doran researched Antarctica's temperatures from 1966 to 2000 and found that it actually got colder. Also, when a study shows that the ice has melted from the edge, they are not taking into account that some ice might have built on top. Many scientists agree that the recent higher temperatures and melting ice are the result of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), which is a pattern of slow, repeating changes in the ocean's surface temperature. For example, Greenland had significant warming from 1920 to 1930. This took place well before the fossil fuel burning could have caused it. Many of the people worried about Global Warming blame the president for abandoning the Kyoto treaty. But others think that the small energy savings were not worth the 300-400 billion dollars it would cost the United States. ("Scare of the Century" Global Issues: Annual Editions 07/08)

As much as science has proved the threat of Global Warming, there is equal proof that Global Warming is not a threat. Some scientist say that the warming of the earth cannot be proved because measuring the temperature of the earth is virtually impossible. Taking an average of the temperature really has no physical meaning. These scientists believe that there is a lot more than warming or cooling that goes into climate change. These scientists also believe that it cannot be proven if humans cause the warming that is happening. ("Issue Eight: Is the Threat of Global Warming Real?" Taking Sides: Clashing View on Global Issues. 4th edition) Scientists need to be free to research and study Global Warming without a political agenda.

Even though it is thought that Christians are usually not concerned with Global Warming, there are some that are. Tri Robinson, pastor of Vineyard Boise Church in Boise, Idaho felt the calling from God to get involved in keeping the earth green. He was worried about it at first, because usually Global Warming is considered an agnostic issue. However, his church welcomed his sermon with open arms. He believes that the bible tells us to take care of the earth. People are suffering because the earth is not being taken care of. Robinson is on a mission to better inform other Christians. ("Going Green" Today's Christian, May/June 07) The Evangelical Climate Initiative is a group of Christians also concerned with the environment. They believe that it is their moral and biblical responsibility to take care of the earth. They believe that human-induced climate change is real and will hit the poorest sections of the world first. They are trying to spread the word that the environment and the earth need to be taken care of, and have biblical evidence to prove so. (www.christiansandclimate.org) Andy Crouch and his family pray before they pump gas as they do before a meal. Crouch believes that fossil fuel is provided just like food is - by God. Edward R. Brown, author of Our Father's World, has seen first hand the effects of not taking care of the earth. Ninety-seven percent of Haiti is now deforested and crop yields in Kenya have decreased fast in the past twenty years. ("RX for Excess" Books & Culture, May/June 2007) Joel C. Hunter, founding and senior pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed in Longwood, Florida, gives Christians some practical ideas to "Care for Creation" A few of them are replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, which use eighty percent less electricity, adjust thermostats and ceiling fans as needed (no use to have them on in empty rooms), don't leave the water running which brushing teeth or shaving, and encourage others to conserve energy and water. ("Whose Earth is it Anyway?" Outreach magazine, May/June 2007)

So is Global Warming really a threat? I believe yes and no. I do not think that the earth is warming and being wasted to the effect that some of the politically swayed scientist do. I also do not think that the earth's resources are abundant and can be used sparingly. I learned from my Granny to "waste not, want not". I think that today, people (even Christians) do not take care of the earth like they should. Is there a use for big, gas guzzling SUVs? No. Do we have to have disposable everything? No. There are conveniences to these things, and even I take the fast route sometimes even if it is not the best thing for the earth, but I try to respect the earth that God gave us and to use the resources sparingly. I want my kids and grandkids to be able to experience the beauty of the land as much as I have.

Resources:
"The Impact of Asia's Giants" Global Issues: Annual Editions 07/08
"Issue Eight: Is the Threat of Global Warming Real?" Taking Sides: Clashing View on Global Issues. 4th edition
"Scare of the Century" Global Issues: Annual Editions 07/08
"Issue Eight: Is the Threat of Global Warming Real?" Taking Sides: Clashing View on Global Issues. 4th edition
"Going Green" Today's Christian, May/June 07
www.christiansandclimate.org
"RX for Excess" Books & Culture, May/June 2007
"Whose Earth is it Anyway?" Outreach magazine, May/June 2007