Over Christmas, I watched the documentary with renowned naturalist, David Attenborough, “Life on this Planet”. David recounts the loss of biodiversity, loss of natural habitat, pollution, and climate change that has occurred over his lifetime. The environmental changes that occured within the 20th century now places the delicate balance of creation in great peril. Scientists predict that due to humanity destroying nature, we now face another great extinction of species. Conservation scientists warn that the actions we take in the coming decades will have consequences for the next few centuries.  

The nine years we have until 2030 are crucial for us to pivot from destroying nature to restoring creation.  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s scientific assessment shows us that we must reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) pollution by 50% in ten years to reach a net-zero GHG pollution by 2050 if we wish to have a stable climate. I wrote in last January’s article that humans currently cause 36 GT of climate pollution, which is beyond the Earth’s carrying capacity to absorb. We must reduce that pollution by switching to renewable energy immediately, and restore degraded forests and oceans. 

In our Bible study, we now reach Genesis chapters six to eight (Genesis 6-8). These three chapters tell of humanity’s wickedness, GOD sending a great flood, Noah’s faithfulness and obedience, and finally ends with GOD making a covenant to preserve the Earth.  Dr. Tony Snow, an Indigenous theologian in Canada, says that this covenant regarding the Earth is not a license to consume, rather, a covenant that is connected back to the commandment to steward, care for, and keep the Earth. It reaffirms God’s goodness and good plans for creation. 

This decade, there are strategies, measures, and policies we can enact to restore God’s creation here and now.  Some of these policies and strategies gained traction in 2020, however, they are not used on a large scale. We can protect oceans by designating conservation areas and no-fish zones, which allow fish populations to recover and be sustainable. We can manufacture products differently to reduce plastic pollution. We can grow food using sustainable methods that combine efficiency with conservation. We can replant in deforested areas, focusing on local plant species that support biodiversity instead of monocultures. We can support Indigenous peoples and communities in protecting their traditional lands and territories - peer reviewed scientific research shows that Indigenous protected areas contain more biodiversity than other kinds of protected areas. We can also focus on building better cities by focusing on energy efficient buildings and electrified transportation based on renewable energy. Meanwhile, we can continue to replace coal, oil, and gas with renewable energy.   

We can take part in caring for creation. We can reduce how much we consume or leave a consumerist lifestyle altogether. By switching to a plant-based diet, we reduce the demand for meat and meat products, which allows current land used to grow monoculture feed stock to be restored and replanted. By resisting the urge to buy new clothes, acquire the latest electronic gadgets, and such activities, we reduce our demand for raw materials and minerals which contribute to habitat destruction. We can spend more time in nature and learning about the local plants, flowers, trees, and animals in the watershed where we live. This helps us appreciate creation and challenges our anthropocentric views and approach. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted many of us to reconsider our lives, including our footprint on the Earth. We have the opportunity to not return to our lives as they were before, and to not return to the economy as it was before, which were based on endless consumption. We have the opportunity to change our approach so that we live in harmony with the rest of God’s creation. It would be a pivot that would be faithful to the Biblical covenant and is crucial for our health and the health of the Earth. 

Go Deeper:

Read: The Sixth Extinction:  

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/05/25/the-sixth-extinction 

Read: How the Netherlands feeds the world: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/09/holland-agriculture-sustainable-farming/ 

Watch: David Attenborough: A Life on this Planet (available on Netflix) 

Take Action: 

January is a great time to build new habits. Try a new habit such as eating only a plant-based diet several days a week - you can find resources by searching “Veganuary” for recipe and meal plan ideas to make delicious, healthy, plant-based meals.