Global Warming. Who is responsible - Essay Example

Question: Discuss one specific local or international problem of social injustice: for example street crime, domestic violence, racism, hunger and homelessness, political or religious oppression, a particular war. Research and analyze the problem from both a factual and a biblical/theological standpoint. Note: I would like you to do the paper on Global Warming. One of the greatest problems and debates of our time is global warming. The earth's climate has continued to vary over the ages with temperatures soaring as the years go by. As it is, the Northern Hemisphere's temperature has been rising after the Little Ice Age in the 17th century. And the major part of the warming that has been reported this century took place from 1900-1940. Ironically, the release of greenhouse gases was less during this period of the century when compared to the second half. In reality, the rise in temperatures over the recent years has been relatively higher when compared with the increase in greenhouse gases.1 Over the last few years, the issue of global warming has gained widespread media coverage. It has been the subject of many TV debates and now has a central role in the ongoing U.S. presidential elections campaigns. Many TV programs depict polar bears stranded as huge chunks of ice continue to melt into the polar waters. This has even been the subject of advertisement for many cruise lines that lure customers by promising them to enroll on a trip to witness the effects of global warming as it melts down polar ice that has been there for more than two million of years.2 According to a document released by the United Nations' International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide [generated by fossil fuel consumption], methane and nitrous oxide [due to agriculture] have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and now far exceed pre-industrial values determined from ice cores spanning many thousands of years."3 However, the document is also optimistic and states that global warming can be curbed if effective measures are put in place to cut down global carbon emissions. That's because slowing down human activity, which according to the panel is the major cause of climate, can be the first step towards overturning the current situation. Global warming is a genuinely dynamic problem today's world. The current level of excess concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is as a result pass human activities. In the same light, the fossil fuels we burn today and related activities will affect future generations. That's because carbon gases emitted today will settle in the atmosphere and leave a negative effect on our planet when we are all gone. As a result, we have to take into account the welfare of our grandchildren each time we make a decision that can affect the environment.4 There is need for us to consider alternative sources of energy, and that's because fossil fuels have two major drawbacks. In addition to pollution, fossil fuels have become expensive.5 More recently, the issue of global warming has been gaining grounds even in religious spheres. More and more people of faith are now adopting global warming as one of their religious concerns. "As with concern regarding the nature and reality of the Holy, as with concern about one's relation to divine things, to God, to the sacred, as with concern for what may be one's ultimate purposes in life, global warming puts radically reorienting questions to life. Global warming puts life itself into question--not only our own individual lives, or the lifeline of our species, but all of life and its future possibilities. Global warming evokes the fragility of life and its mysterious contingency and begs caring response on our part."6 Another reason why global warming should attract religious concern is that most religions have some common principles that guide their teaching. These include having concern for the vulnerable as well as appreciation for the majestic works of God. "Global warming, by posing the threats to present and future life that it does, by magnifying the real immediacy of life's precariousness, is an issue that is included directly or indirectly within each of these concerns."7 This qualifies it to be considered a major theological issue. In the bible, many communities went to war with the aim of safeguarding their territory for their descendants. Similarly, this generation has a responsibility to protect the environment so as to make it friendly to future generations. The doctrine of global warming is based entirely on Christian principles which entail the love of God and neighbor, and especially the poor. During this crucial period of climate global climate change, those committed to Christian moral principles are expected to put that into practice. And that can only be done by considering the future generations as our "biblical neighbors." After all the religious definition of a neighbor is not limited to those who live next door. Many religions also call on the rich to cater for the poor. And if we have to go by figures, "Approximately eighty percent of global carbon emissions are generated by the richest twenty percent of the global population. But the brunt of the impact of global warming, is most immediate and intense effects will literally be "weathered" by the poorest eighty percent."8 Most of the world's impoverished populations live in disaster zones along the coasts. The people will be the most vulnerable in case of a significant rise in sea level. And at the same time, these people lack the resources to effectively respond to any disaster. In this light therefore, the concern for the poor should drive Christians to consider global warming as a profound religious concern and do something to reverse the trends. Critics have questioned scientists on their reports about human activity and rate of global warming. Some go on to say carbon emissions are increasing at an arithmetic rate while global warming is increasing at a geometric progression. They use this piece of information to challenge scientist that global warming might not be a direct consequence of human activity. However, majority of the world's educated elite do accept that human activity, especially the combustion of fossil fuels from our cars and factories, has a role in global warming. They also agree that there is need to do something about it to protect the planet for future generations. But unfortunately, there has been more talking than doing when it comes to protecting the environment and reducing greenhouse emissions, the major cause of global warming that has been identified so far. This falls in line with the biblical doctrine of caring for others. Today, many religions are beginning to understand that the war against global warming is not only an issue for politicians but all. The world's leaders have taken several major steps to curb global warming. But most of these efforts have been on paper and never executed. The Kyoto agreement to limit carbon emissions, for example, has made little difference. The parties have not upheld their promises. The best answer to global warming would be the introduction of clean energy sources in place of fossil fuels. Though already present in small quantities and in few regions, it will take a while to introduce clean energy in every aspect of our daily lives and businesses. REFERENCES: Hogue, Michael, "Global Warming and Religious Stick Fighting" Cross Currents, Spring 2007, Volume: 57, pp. 116-117 International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "Carbon Emissions And Climate Change," 2 February 2007, pp. 2 Nji, Renatus, "What Alternatives To Oil In Africa," Africa Renewal, Volume 3, October 2006, pp. 17 Schlesinger, James, "The Theology of Global Warming: It's based on politics, not science," The World Street Journal, 13 August, 2005: A3 Uzawa, Hirofumi, Economic Theory and Global Warming, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003, pp. 115 Read More