CHAPTER TENJustice and the Environment

Old Faithful

Grand Canyon

Mt. Saint Helens

Glacier National Park

Molokai

Grand Tetons

God’s Grandeur Threatened- There are many environmental atrocities against our world

Mexico City suffers from life-threatening air pollution most days of the year

Approximately 50% of all hospital beds in the world are filled with people who have water- born illnesses

More than 60% of America’s coastal rivers and bays are moderately to severely degraded by nutrient runoff

Many effects of global warmingLow-income people and minorities suffer

more from environmental contamination

Our World Did you know… All living species, including humans, are

interdependent We are part of creation and co-dependent on

it; we are not superior to other living things

Sin has lead to our serious abuses and environmental crises

Biblical teaching on the environment

1) Creation is good

2) Humans are God’s special creatures

3) Dominion over creation requires cultivation and care

4) Sin has lead humans to abuse the gift of creation

5) Human sin harms the earth

6) Jesus reconciles everything to God, including bringing harmony to creation

7) Jesus teaches how to be a good steward

Our World

The Scope of the Environmental Problemecology

Science that studies the relationship

between organisms and their

environment

rain forest

Dense tropical forest with an

annual rainfall of at least 100 inches

- Risks due to loss of rainforests:Home to more than half of the plant and animal species on earthPotential for many medicines that come from the plants of the rainforestsLinked to health of atmosphere because they hold reserves of carbon in their vegetationSoils become unproductive when rainforests are clearedRainforests are being destroyed at a staggering rate

The Scope of the Environmental Problem

- Crisis in the availability of clean water for the world’s population

- 80% of diseases stem from consumption and exposure to unclean water

- Industrial pollutants contaminate the world’s water supply Over 20% of the world’s population breathes unhealthy air

Air pollution causes numerous illnesses

The Scope of the Environmental Problem

Acid rainThe burning of fossil fuel releases nitrogen and sulfur oxides into the atmosphere which later fall as acid rain

The Scope of the Environmental Problem

Greenhouse effect

Creation of industrial waste, burning of fossil

fuel, unrestricted deforestation, and the use

of certain herbicides, coolants, and propellants

-A society that will easily dispose of God’s earth will also find disposing of people easy

-What we do to the environment has an impact on the poor

The Scope of the Environmental Problem

Greenhouse effect

Accumulation of certain gases in the upper atmosphere, mostly

created by the burning of fossil fuels and the production of other

gaseous emissions

Global warming

An average rise in global temperature by 1 to 3.5 degrees Celsius by the

year 2100 caused by the greenhouse effect

The Scope of the Environmental Problem

decreased habitats for

some animals

heat-relateddeaths

flooding

increaseddroughts

Effects of global

warming

Ozone depletion has brought many

serious health risks

Humans have become the “exterminator species” because of the rapid rate of species extinctions caused by humans

As many as 137 species disappear daily because of human activity

We have the God-given ability to responsibly save other species

The Scope of the Environmental Problem

Church & World Teaching on Environment- Renewing the Earth

1) A God-centered, sacramental world2) Respect for life3) Planetary common good and solidarity4) Universal purpose of created

things5) Option for the poor6) Authentic development,

consumption and population

Church & World Teaching on Environment- Renewing the Earth, cont.• People often focus on behaving & enjoying (things)

rather than being & growing. So they consume the earth’s resources in a disordered, excessive way

• Human beings too often forget that the earth & its resources are from God. They arrogantly subject the earth to their own selfish goals.

• Men & women forget that the earth has its own needs.• People set themselves up in place of God when they abuse their role as stewards. As a result, nature “rebels” and is more tyrannized than governed or “taken care of” by human beings.

Declaration on Human Rights and the Environment

p.242-243

Church & World Teaching on Environment

Vocabulary

greenhouse effectecologyrainforestglobal warmingRenewing the Earth