As people of faith, Christians face numerous social justice issues requiring our engagement. The church must faithfully engage in and fight for racial justice, gender justice, LGBTQ rights, disability rights and economic justice. None of these is an isolated concern; they intersect at numerous points. Addressing one helps address the others.
One of the most pressing justice issues of our time is climate change.
For the survival of humanity and the Earth, we must work for climate justice. Climate change is affecting everyone and every living thing on this planet, and we need to take this crisis seriously.
The world recognizes that climate change is happening. The heat is becoming more unbearable, and the cold is becoming more extreme. People are seeing climate change unfold right before our eyes.
Scientists report that 2015-2025 is the hottest 11-year period on record. This is a devastating pattern, and we must heed the statistics and strive to reverse the damage we are causing to this planet.
Scientists also predict that by 2050, droughts may affect more than three-quarters of the world’s population, and one-third of the world’s glaciers could vanish. These statistics should alarm us, as they will create havoc on this planet and affect everything on it, including humanity.
These predictions could become reality in less than 25 years, affecting how our children and their children will live and survive on this planet. We cannot ignore these warnings. We must work to halt the climate devastation happening to the Earth.
World Environment Day
We have Earth Day on April 22 to encourage us to live sustainably. In the church, we also have the Season of Creation, from September 1 to October 4 to remind us to advocate for God’s creation. In addition, on June 5, we celebrate World Environment Day.
World Environment Day was established by the United Nations in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment to raise awareness and action to protect the environment. It has become the United Nations’ primary global platform for environmental outreach and advocacy.
It began as a day to raise awareness about issues such as overpopulation, global warming and sustainable development. Today, participants from more than 143 countries take part in efforts to protect the environment.
This day serves as an important reminder of our shared global responsibility to care for our planet and protect it from the distressing environmental challenges it faces. From climate change and biodiversity loss to pollution and environmental injustice, the threats are urgent and demand collective action.
Presently, the 1.5-degree Celsius limit to avoid the worst climate impacts is being dangerously exceeded. Climate change is no longer a future threat; it is reshaping life throughout the world.
World Environment Day is a global day of action, rallying people, governments and businesses to address climate change and biodiversity loss. Every sector must participate in creating a plan to protect the environment. This day also serves as a catalyst for influencing national and international environmental policies.
We need as many reminders as possible throughout the year of our responsibility to care for the Earth. World Environment Day helps raise awareness, but protecting our planet requires more than a single day of reflection. The climate crisis calls us to change our lifestyles, reduce our ecological footprint and advocate for policies that promote climate justice.
Individual actions matter, but systemic change is essential. We must work together to support policies that protect vulnerable communities, reduce emissions, promote renewable energy and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. World Environment Day calls upon individuals, communities, organizations and governments around the world to work together toward a more sustainable and just future.
People of faith must also get involved, as protecting the environment should be a priority for all faith traditions. As people of faith, we are reminded that caring for the Earth is not optional. It is a sacred responsibility that is deeply spiritual, and engaging in climate action is an expression of faithfulness.
May this World Environment Day inspire and encourage us to renew our commitment to protecting the Earth and to act with courage, hope and compassion for future generations and for all of God’s creation.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Grace Ji-Sun Kim (Ph.D. University of St. Michael’s College) was born in Korea, educated in Canada and now teaches in the USA as Professor of Theology at Earlham School of Religion, Richmond, Indiana. She is the author or editor of 26 books, most recently, Earthbound: God at the Intersection of Climate and Justice.
Kim is the host of Madang podcast which is sponsored by the Christian Century. She blogs on her substack: Loving Life: Loving Life and has written for Huffington Post, The Nation, Sojourners, Baptist News Global, Faith and Leadership and TIME. Kim has appeared on MSNBC, PBS and C-Span. She has been a guest on BBC Radio, Soul Search Radio, WBEZ Radio, and Keep Hope Alive Radio. She is an ordained PC(USA) minister and enjoys being a guest preacher on most Sundays.