On August 22nd, we will mark this year’s Earth Overshoot Day.  Earth Overshoot Day marks the day when humanity’s demand for the earth’s ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what the Earth can regenerate in that year [1]. Essentially it means that we are consuming resources at a rate that is increasingly unsustainable and not supported by the earth’s carrying capacity. 

Do you remember when your parents and grandparents were able to use appliances, tools, and machines that were of high quality and could last many years? Our current system now encourages and incentivizes disposable or “throwaway” consumption and planned obsolescence, which results in the overuse of raw materials and waste. I am working hard to reduce my own ecological footprint, because if the entire world was to consume as many of the earth’s resources and services as Canadians and Americans do, we would need approximately 2.6 planet Earths!  

What do the Scriptures say about our relationship to the Earth? This month, our study of creation care and the Bible continues in Genesis 2. In Genesis 2, God has finished creating the Earth and has created the garden of Eden. God appoints Adam and Eve to ‘dress and keep the garden’ (Genesis 2:15, King James Version).  In Hebrews, the words used in verse 15 are abad and to shamar, which means to serve and protect, and to work towards the flourishing of the garden. God’s command to manage creation is practical and sensible. When we plant gardens, we also have to weed, prune, irrigate and direct water. Unmanaged creation means lost productivity in crops, uncontrolled weeds that divert valuable nutrients away from flowering and fruit-bearing plants, and potentially wasted or untapped harvests. Genesis 2 is clear that some management of creation is required. 

The Bible is also clear that the concepts of managing creation or ‘taking dominion’ (as per some interpretations) does not equate to domination. Psalm 24:1 states that “The Earth is the Lord’s”.  Like Adam and Eve, we are appointed as God’s caretakers and stewards, and not to participate in exploiting the earth out of greed and selfishness. The international Christian conservation organization, A Rocha, describes this as “living lightly” on the earth. 

If we are to live in a way that reflects God’s ownership and stewardship of the earth, moving away from a disposable and throwaway consumption system and culture is essential.  This requires systems-level interventions and changes in food systems, transportation, consumer good production, and other sectors. However, there are habits we can adopt to improve our care of creation: 

a. Eating more vegetables and less meat is the single biggest impact individuals and families can have on reducing carbon pollution and resource consumption. [2] The global demand for animal protein has increased stress on energy, water, and arable land to produce animal feed, and incentivizes the burning and clear-cutting of Amazonian and Indonesian rain forests. 

b. Reduce food waste by meal planning and portioning. [3] 

c. Streamline our closets so we shop only for what we need and buy good quality items. 

d. Commute carbon free by cycling, driving electric vehicles, and working from home when possible. 

e. Provide input into city planning processes for land use and transportation. 

f. Help steward nature by joining a park or shoreline cleanup, or donate to help plant trees and protect wild places.

Pursuing the commitment to “live lightly” with a community, like your family or household, helps build long-term habits. Committing to ‘live lightly’ also helps us follow God’s commandments to steward the earth and will enable future generations to also enjoy God’s good creation.  

Go Deeper: Explore the “Earth Overshoot Day” webpage to understand how this date is calculated, your country’s “overshoot day” and what systemic changes are needed. 

Take Action: Explore A Rocha’s Living Lightly Action Page and start building one habit to “live lightly”: https://arocha.org.uk/our-activities/living-lightly-take-action/ 

References: 

[1] Earth Overshoot Day: https://www.overshootday.org/ 

[2] Why you should go animal free. June 19, 2020. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/19/why-you-should-go-animal-free-arguments-in-favour-of-meat-eating-debunked-plant-based  

[3] Most people waste more food than they think - here’s how to fix it. The National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/04/people-waste-more-food-than-they-think-psychology/