Hazy About the Environment?

Now that prominent economist Nicholas Stern has put a dollar value on the cost of adverse climate change (up to 20 percent of the present world economy), maybe more attention--and hopefully, more priority--will be given to counteracting it.  Sadly, most people will probably remain blasé about greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

Recently our corner of the world experienced poor air quality because Indonesian farmers use burning to clear their land. But the effect was seemingly temporary and the haze had cleared. And we will soon forget. That is, until the haze blows our way again.

We blame the farmers in Indonesia for their ecologically and socially irresponsible way of clearing their land. And rightly so. However, the wider problem of global warming that has led to the detrimental climate change is also due to our wanton consumer habits together with profit-hungry utilization of resources and the production that feed them. It is not just Indonesian farmers who are taking the easy way out.

God gave humanity stewardship over this world. But humankind made a mess of it due to our sinfulness. And Christians shrug away our responsibility with this argument: Since there is going to be a new heaven and new earth anyway, why bother with caring for the environment?

To be sure, there will be a new heaven and new earth. "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."(Rom. 8 :22) Nevertheless, the Creator's commission of stewardship of the earth for humankind still stands, especially for the redeemed, since it was given when Adam the first man was not yet fallen.  The Lord will call His stewards to account when He returns.

Loy Chin Fen