Sparring with Climate Change

Earth Day Google Doodle

  ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. ⁸ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs. Mark 13

Happy Earth Day! Are you ready for the apocalypse?

Yesterday Prime Minister Trudeau did a photo op in a New York City gym, sparring with some young people in a boxing ring. We remember when he pummelled the bigger, stronger, meaner looking Patrick Brazeau in the ring a few years ago, much to everyone's surprise.



Today he is one of more than a hundred representatives from various countries at the United Nations to sign on to what we hope is an historic agreement on climate change. This agreement is the outcome of the COP24 climate change conference in Paris last December. It enters into force once it’s signed by 55 countries accounting for 55 per cent of global emissions. Most countries are expected to add their signatures today – on the first possible day.



While our prime minister is willing to symbolically do battle with the pressing issue of climate change we need more than a couple of photo op rounds. Canada isn't even close to being on track to reach a 30% reduction in emissions by 2030.

Back to the apocalypse. In scripture there are passages which predict gloom and doom, last battles an natural catastrophes, for those who do not open their eyes to the signs of the times. 

While this might be dismissed as ancient religious claptrap, world leaders are realizing the catastrophic implications of our current trajectory. Before COP24 the Chinese government issued a sobering report on the effects of climate change. The New York Times published an editorial stating bluntly that if we don't figure this out we run the risk of bringing life as we know it to an end. That is catastrophic.

Jesus also offers hope, the birth pangs of a new way of being as an aspect of God's reign. We can pray that we do see the signs and respond, that we aren't just whiffing at the air for the cameras.

Thoughts?



Earth Day Google Doodle