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The threat to creation by global warming/climate change is a cause for concern for everyone on the planet, but for Christians the issue is more than a matter of self preservation; it is a matter of faithfulness.
Throughout its history, the Church of the Brethren has been concerned with good stewardship of God's creation. We are increasingly aware of the interrelatedness of all life. We acknowledge that energy use is linked to the ecological crisis facing the Earth, the health consequences for us and future generations, and spiritual well-being in relation to other species and our Creator.
Climate change is an issue of justice. The industrialized nations, representing less than 20 percent of the world's population, are responsible for 75 to 80 percent of the annual greenhouse gas emissions. Yet those who live in poor and developing countries will be most seriously affected by global warming.
A major challenge facing humankind is an equitable standard of living for this and future generations: adequate food, water, energy, safe shelter and a healthy environment. Human-induced climate change, along with land degradation, loss of biological diversity, and stratospheric ozone depletion, threatens our ability to meet these basic human needs.
An overwhelming majority of scientific experts, while recognizing that scientific uncertainties exist, believe that Hunan-induced climate change is occurring. Indeed, during the last few years, many parts of the world have suffered heat waves, flood, droughts, fire, and extreme weather events leading to significant economic losses and loss of life. In the past century, much of the world's polar and mountain ice has melted, and in the past few decades the melting has accelerated. While individual events cannot be directly linked to human-induced climate change, the frequency and magnitude of such events are predicted to increase in a warming world.
In recently revised estimates scientists conclude that if greenhouse emissions (produce mainly by burning fossil fuels) are not curtailed, the Earth's average surface temperatures may increase from 2.7 degrees to nearly 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, substantially more than the estimated 6.3 degrees in a 1995 report.*
The good news is, however, that the majority of experts believe that significant reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions are feasible due to an extensive array of technological and policy measures in the energy supply, energy demand, and agricultural and forestry sectors. In addition, the projected adverse effects of climate change on socioeconomic and ecological systems can, to some degree, be reduced through proactive adaptation measures.
Citizens of the United States of America have a particular obligation to address the threat of climate change. The US with 4.5 of the world population emits nearly 30 percent of the world's greenhouse gases.
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