Until I attended public school at age 14, I didn’t really grasp that there were whole worlds outside of my father’s church. Or rather, Dad’s “empire,” as the Showtime documentary Years of Living Dangerously recently dubbed it. My childhood was a colorful, confusing swirl of worship conferences, youth group meetings, revival-style prayer gatherings, mission trips, and church services (well, let’s be honest, gossiping with friends and flirting with cute boys during church services.)
I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of religious leaders to sway public perception and behavior. Dad has written over 40 books, spoken in nearly every country and most Sundays, and has thousands of followers all over the world. He also has an amazing amount of influence on how his sizeable flock think, act, and vote on a host of issues. That being said, he’s no pope.
So, as a climate activist and Christian, I’m beyond thrilled and grateful that Pope Francis — arguably the most widely respected moral authority alive today, with 1.2 billion Catholic followers worldwide and many more Christian and non-Christian admirers — is calling on world leaders, and all Catholics and people of good will, to act on global warming by releasing a historic papal encyclical on the matter this summer.
Encyclicals are one of the most authoritative means for papal teaching and are written in secret, but Catholic leaders have given us some clues as to what’s in store.
It is clear that Pope Francis believes climate change and other forms of environmental destruction are moral issues that unjustly harm people, especially marginalized people, and therefore must be addressed by both political leaders and fellow Christian leaders. An Argentine Bishop and close friend of Pope Francis recently said, "Market forces alone, with no ethics and collective action, cannot solve the interrelated crises of poverty, exclusion and the environment."
At the U.N. Climate Change Summit in New York last autumn, the Vatican's top diplomat called on world leaders to combat climate change by "not only strengthening, deepening and consolidating the political process on a global level, but also intensifying our commitment to a profound cultural renewal."
Pope Francis believes that followers of Christ are called to care for God’s creation for its own sake, too.
“Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or, even less, the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude,” he said in May.
Global warming is not a distant phenomenon or something that will affect only low-lying paradisiacal islands. It impacts realities closer to home, too — our favorite beaches,such as my family’s haven of Perdido Beach, Ala., which is already experiencing increased flooding and erosion; our great coastal cities, such as New York, New Orleans, and Miami; our morning cup of coffee; an evening glass of wine with friends; winter sports; the seafood industry; our seasons; backyard gardens; avocados — many of the intimate pleasures, places, and rituals that fill our lives with joy. It’s our duty, then, to protect these valued treasures.
The Vatican is timing the encyclical release to emphasize the need for a strong, international agreement at the U.N. Climate Negotiations in Paris in Dec. 2015, a critical moment wherein world leaders will largely decide the fate of our planet and all who reside here. Closer to home this summer, the E.P.A will unveil the final Clean Power Plan, the keystone of President Obama’s efforts to curb climate change by placing the first-ever federal limitations on carbon pollution from power plants.
There could not be a more important year for climate action. It’s now or never. The future of our planet and the people, places, and things that we love depend on all of us working together to demand a healthy, just, and vibrant planet home. It impacts everything else – immigration and migration due to drought, flooding, sea level rise, and worsening storms; war and conflict over natural resources; access to drinkable water; food insecurity, hunger, and agriculture; disaster relief. It even impacts the sex trade — when women have to walk farther and farther to find water, they’re more vulnerable to rape and kidnapping in many regions.
So here we are, now. Governments, scientists, universities, companies, our military, and thousands of non-profit organizations are all scrambling to save the very integrity of God’s creation, the composition of the atmosphere God so magnificently created to support life on earth. And Christians are barely even at the table. We need to be at the table.
Dr. Gus Speth, former Dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies said once:
“I used to think that if we threw enough good science at the environmental problems, we could solve them. I was wrong. The main threats to the environment are not biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change as I once thought. They are selfishness and greed and pride. And for that we need a spiritual and cultural transformation, something we scientists don’t know much about.”
Climate change is not a political issue. It’s a moral issue. It’s a justice issue. Even more, it’s a spiritual issue.
The encyclical will be an opening and a challenge to break out of our comfortable, cultural silos, to move beyond our religious bubbles, disagreements, and stereotypes, and to join hands with people, both like us and unlike us, to preserve this earth we all love and call home. And, perhaps, to make a few new friends and learn something along the way.
It has yet to be seen whether or not other Christian leaders will stand in solidarity with Pope Francis and join his call for urgent, meaningful action on climate change. I pray they will.
Christians have led many great social change movements before: anti-slavery, women’s suffrage, the civil rights movement. We can help lead this one, too. And who better than Christians, believers in hope, believers in resurrection, believes in salvation — even against all odds?
Anna Jane Joyner is a climate activist, preacher's daughter, and star of Showtime's Years of Living Dangerously (Episode 4). A Carolina girl at heart, she is now based in New York City and works with Here Now, an incubator testing new approaches for engaging non-traditional audiences — including people of faith — in climate action. Follow her on Twitter @annajanejoyner.
Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!