The recent #ClimateStrike has awakened the global consciousness to the harsh reality of climate change. How do I know this? On more than one occasion since September 20th, I’ve been asked: “so what can I do about the climate?” This is the first time these folks have asked me this question. There is a growing, sincere concern over the well-being of humanity. I agree wholeheartedly with climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe when she says: the most important thing you can do to fight global warming is to talk about it!
“Start by talking about why it matters to us, to begin with genuinely shared values. Are we both parents? Do we live in the same community? Do we enjoy the same outdoor activities: hiking, biking, fishing, even hunting? Do we care about the economy or national security?” says Hayhoe.
She continues: “For me, one of the most foundational ways I found to connect with people is through my faith. As a Christian, I believe that God created this incredible planet that we live on and gave us responsibility over every living thing on it. And I furthermore believe that we are to care for and love the least fortunate among us, those who are already suffering the impacts of poverty, hunger, disease and more. If you don’t know what the values are that someone has, have a conversation, get to know them, figure out what makes them tick. And then once we have, all we have to do is connect the dots between the values they already have and why they would care about a changing climate.”
I, too, am a Christian. I share the belief that Creation’s loving care is the biblical responsibility of God’s people. One of God’s first commands in Genesis chapter 1 to humanity was to “tend His garden.”
Sunday, December 31, 2017 was the first opportunity I personally had to talk about climate change with the members of my church. It being New Year’s Eve, I offered a commentary titled A Climate For Resolutions, where I talked about how it is the Biblical responsibility of God’s people to care for Creation. And that there are things that Christians can do to make a difference: praying, looking at how we live our own lives and how it might be affecting the environment, and advocating for those currently living in extreme poverty who are facing climate change as a life-threatening issue every single day. I tried to connect with my fellow churchgoers through the values we share simply by being Christians.
The following summer, the pastor at my Mom’s church was going to be on vacation, and I was invited to speak at her church. I slightly revised my commentary from the prior New Years’ Eve, knowing that this other congregation leans more conservative than my church. I recorded the audio from that talk:
Now, at every opportunity, I make a conscious effort to talk about climate change. For me, I feel that it is my duty as a degreed meteorologist (i.e. someone who was taught and knows the science) and a Christian (i.e. someone who is called to be a steward of Creation) to do something about climate change.
My church has a Peace Candle, that members of the congregation take turns each week lighting and sharing a commentary, poem, etc. I’ve taken the opportunity to discuss how hurricanes are fueled by warmer waters (October 2018), as well inviting everyone to join me in the September 20, 2019 #ClimateStrike.
The Pastor at my church is also a member of the local Rotary Club. He invited me to speak to the Rotary Club about Northern Vermont University’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences, where I work as the IT support. In my presentation, I not only talked about my own climate advocacy, I discussed the The Climate Consensus (www.theclimateconsensus.com) group of students on campus, as well as the curricular and extracurricular initiatives the Department of Atmospheric Sciences has taken to more effectively educate undergraduate students about climate change (including the first-in-the-nation undergraduate Climate Change Science degree), as well as learning how to talk about the science with students at local schools and community members.
Who will you talk with this week about climate change? What shared values do you have?
Beth Thompson
Thank you for publishing this piece on clear examples of “talking about it.” This past week I “talked about it” at my book group, by asking how many had participated in the Youth School Strike for Climate. Not many had, but a discussion ensued. Maybe more will participate the next time. Greta Thunberg is a great example of how one person, one small person, bringing attention to something crucial can make a real difference. Thank you for making a difference, too.