A year of extreme weather events: how should Christians respond?

For some years now, the IPCC and the scientific community more broadly have warned that rapid climate change, largely driven by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, is likely to lead to more frequent and intense extreme weather events[1]. Recent years have seen an escalation in such events, and 2023 appears to be breaking climate records in concerning ways – for example, the extent of Antarctic sea ice has hit a record low for the second year running[2]. The sea surface temperature around the United Kingdom in the first half of this year was at a record high, and global SSTs in April and May were the highest on record[3].

The ocean and the atmosphere are strongly coupled – warm seas have a significant impact on the weather. In 2023, we are also seeing a return to El Nino conditions in the Pacific, expected to peak in December and also likely to generate extreme weather events[4]. While the devastating wildfires in Maui in August became emblematic of the problems in the Anglophone media[5], there have also been devastating wildfires in Canada[6] and in Chile[7] this year. Cyclone Freddy[8], which did significant damage in Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique in March and Cyclone Mocha[9], which left hundreds of thousands of people in Pakistan and Myanmar homeless in May – including many Rohingya refugees – and killed hundreds more, were both likely intensified by warmer oceans that usual. Guam, too, was hit by a category 4 typhoon[10]. In June, for the first time on record, two tropical cyclones formed in the tropical Atlantic[11] – because it was warmer than usual. July subsequently saw July 3-6 declared the hottest global days on record, and the highest monthly sea surface temperature anomaly[12] . At the time of writing, meteorologists are debating whether or not this September will see some of the strongest hurricanes on record[13], and Europe is experiencing an “omega-block”, with flooding in Spain and Greece, and a heatwave in France, Germany and the United Kingdom[14].

Research on disaster risk has shown, unequivocally, that the poorest people are usually the worst hit by disasters. They have the least means to cope, and the least capital socially and politically: they depend on the state to invest in protecting them. They may not have ready access to vehicles to evacuate, for example, and may be dependent on the land for their livelihoods. The fact that these communities also contribute minimally to global emissions compounds this issue of environmental injustice[15].

Looking at this destruction and injustice, what should Christians think and do? It is tempting to feel hopeless – or to point to God’s promises in Revelation as a comfort and even as an excuse for inaction. Neither of these is a Biblical response, though. Christians are called to care for the earth and to care for other people. Old Testament instructions to Israel seek to ensure that their livelihoods are sustainable for the land, for example[16]. Jesus himself calls us to love one another (Matt 22:37-40; see also Deuteronomy 10:19 on loving strangers). An important image in the Bible is the close relationship between the health of nature and that of humanity: when the land suffers, it is usually related to the behaviour of people and a broken relationship with God[17].

Inaction is not an option here – but at the same time, it is difficult to appreciate what individuals can really do about a global problem. I have several suggestions. There are lifestyle changes that have been shown to reduce emissions – but this is a complex issue. Electric lithium batteries, for example, require lithium, and the extraction of lithium is environmentally damaging: while it is tempting to focus on mitigation of the effects of fossil fuel emissions, the technology is not there yet and is itself damaging to the environment in other ways. What we need is a multifaceted approach. Reducing dependence on petrol, reducing meat consumption, reducing use of plastics – all of these are good things to do as far as we practically can. However, what is actually necessary is action by governments. Christians do have a role in writing to MPs and in thinking seriously about how we vote, so that those we elect are focussed both on reducing fossil fuel emissions and on commitments to supporting the poorest. We can also, where possible, give to charities like Tearfund which are working to help vulnerable communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change (as well as in emergency relief work).

Christians should not feel hopeless: there are things that we can do to help on a range of scales – and we do know that creation will one day be redeemed. We do also have a duty to pray, to vote wisely for those who will take meaningful action and to steward our gifts – in science, for example – and our resources as wisely as possible.