Avert a stormy future
It’s no longer a matter of prediction: climate change is here. We have long been aware that it would lead to stronger hurricanes, unpredictable monsoons and unstable rain patterns. The tragic events of the past month were a confirmation of the predictions climate scientists have been sounding for the past 25 years.
Scientists have been speaking, but we have not been listening. Because of our reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil, the world is locked into a warmer future. A robust commitment to a transition away from fossil fuels is needed.
A stand by the world’s Christians gives hope. As extreme weather grips many of the Earth’s most vulnerable people, the Christian family acts for climate justice. From September 1 to October 4, Catholics, Anglicans, the Orthodox Church, the World Council of Churches and members of the ecumenical family join together to act and pray for climate justice.
Moral leadership from people of faith is important because the effects of climate change are not evenly distributed. Drought and flooding most affect the poorest of the poor, with the least resources to rebuild a home, replant a field, or seek medical care for flood-borne illnesses.
Here in Southern Africa, the uneven distribution of climate change’s consequences is especially stark. The drought is pushing up food prices. The effect on the poor is immediate and devastating. In Cape Town there is a possibility that the sewerage system may stop functioning. This will have dire results for those in informal settlements, and those who contribute least to climate change will be hit hardest by it.
South Africa is the continent’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. Much of this comes from our production of electricity, 90% of which comes from coal. Renewable sources of energy are a good alternative, and a successful renewables programme has attracted $14-billion in investment. Investors want to fund projects that would effectively double the amount of renewables in the power supply, but Eskom has refused to sign the agreements and is building coal-fired plants instead.
South Africa has an opportunity to develop a clean energy economy and step away from our disastrous collective commitment to climate change, a commitment that has real and tragic effects for all of us.
Beyond our borders, our leadership can set the tone for the rest of the continent and for the world.
Of course, deciding to break our addiction to fossil fuels won’t be easy. We in the Anglican Church have made a start. In 2016 the Anglican Church passed a resolution to divest our reserves from fossil fuels. With this action we had the goal of encouraging financial institutions to begin to offer fossil-free portfolios to customers. Other religious institutions are doing the same. During the Season of Creation, a coalition of religious institutions from around the world, will announce its divestment from fossil fuels.
The faith community must stand on the side of the poor and vulnerable people who suffer the most in the climate catastrophe. We need to simplify our lifestyles so that others can simply live. This involves reducing our endless purchasing of materialistic goods, our overuse of fuel and electricity, our high consumption of meat and our wastage of water.
We are combating climate change as a moral and ethical disaster, and we invite our brothers and sisters in industry to join us. Climate chaos is knocking at our door. For the sake of the vulnerable, for the sake of our children, let it get no further.