Why Christians should be concerned about 'Sustainability'

All Christians are aware of the concept of 'original sin' and that our Lord came to free us from this curse. What mankind has done and is doing to the environment is a good illustration that original sin still plagues the world. Our actions are well on the way to rendering parts God's creation uninhabitable, not only for other creatures but also ourselves. Political philosophies and leadership have proved ineffective and efficiency improvements cannot provide the complete solution. We need a new relationship with the world and each other based on love, as our Lord taught.

The problem began here in Britain when we started to use coal, a fossil form of carbon from ancient plants, to provide heat and motive power. It seemed to prove a very effective way of increasing the material comfort of some people. We constructed a new economy based around the consumption of the resources of our own country and the considerable Empire that we had gained through trade and warfare. Our methods were copied and improved by other countries in Europe and North America. Other fossil fuels were used: oil, methane and uranium. Since the collapse of Communism, a decade ago, capitalist economics and global trade have become the ideal for the majority of countries throughout the world. The methods used to develop in this way are based on the industrial techniques of production and farming that we pioneered and the use of motor powered transport.

At first the affects of coal burning and other industrial activities were local and suffered mostly by the poor who worked in factories. But, even when it was not immediately obvious, gasses were being discharged into the atmosphere and liquids and solids on to the land and into rivers and sea. After just two hundred years of this activity, we have increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by over 25% and a hole has appeared in the ozone layer that protects us from some of the harmful effects of the sun's rays. We have also poisoned some land and water and reduced the diversity of the creatures that God gave to share this world with us. Furthermore, we have already detected the beginnings of changes to global temperature and the pattern and intensity of the winds and sea currents. The cumulative affect of all of these threatens to raise sea levels and lead to considerable damage on land.

What does not seem to be appreciated by some of those who are currently within the system or who aspire belong to it is that Britain, the United States of America and other beneficiaries rely on the resources of those outside. It has been estimated that for all the world's population to have the material wealth of the average American would require resources three times greater than this planet can supply.

Thus it must be concluded that we have created ambitions that are unachievable and a way of life that is unsustainable. The leaders of the Anglican Church have drawn attention to the problem and the solution through 'the redemptive purpose of God in Jesus Christ' (Resolutions 1.8 & 1.9 of the Lambeth Conference, 1998). Lichfield Diocese has set up a mechanism, 'Eco-Church', to promote, assist and co-ordinate action in Parishes. Never has the Christian message been more needed. However, this is not just a local or denominational matter, we should consider how to respond to this great challenge across the Christian world.

Paul Newman

December 1999

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