By Rev. Dr Chris Walker
My oldest grandson is twenty-one while my youngest granddaughter is just one. By 2050 they will be 46 and 26 years old respectively. What will the world be like when we reach that time? Current trends in relation to climate change and international relationships are not promising.
The recent National Climate Risk Assessment report commissioned by the federal government was concerning. Some of the main effects of rising temperatures and climate change are as follows according to the report. Droughts are going to be more common which will hit crop yields across the country especially in the south and east. Rising ocean levels will impact coastal towns which will have an effect on over 1.5 million people. There will be longer fire seasons and more fires with mega fires on the rise. Northern West Australia will experience this especially. Heatwave deaths will increase due to more days of extreme heat. This will be especially felt in places such as suburbs in western Sydney. Air conditioning will be essential which requires power. Living in many parts of Australia will become more difficult.
We have now reached 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels and are likely to be well above 2 degrees by 2050. Already we are experiencing more extreme weather events with catastrophic bush fires, extensive floods and violent storms. The resilience of the environment is finding it hard to recover as these extreme weather events become more frequent. Three billion creatures died or were harmed in the 2019-2020 bush fires. Repeated floods in northern New South Wales have impacted thousands. Lismore experienced its worst floods ever in 2022. Many homes are now uninsurable or have such high insurance as to be prohibitive for many people. Natural wonders such as the Great Barrier Reef have experienced bleaching effects which will only increase as corals struggle to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.
What is needed are concerted efforts to limit rising temperatures, develop resilience, and move away from our dependence on fossil fuels. While this is acknowledged by most, not enough is being done to actually move to net zero emissions and foster alternative renewable sources of power. Australia continues to mine for coal and gas rather than rapidly phase these out.
The international political scene is worrying. I would have liked to think that we would learn from the terrible wars of the 20th century to find ways to resolve conflicts through diplomacy without recourse to war. Unfortunately, war and violence continue. Militarism is on the rise not decline. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the conflict in Palestine after the Hamas attack in October 2023 have resulted in appalling suffering and devastation. President Putin initiated the war in Ukraine and has not been willing to seek peace despite international condemnation. Similarly, Prime Minister Netanyahu has been ruthless in his response to the Hamas attack and has used it to inflict genocide on Palestinians with the goal of taking over Gaza. He, too, has been condemned for the way Israel has reacted. Both Putin and Netanyahu have been accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court but unfortunately it does not have the power to follow up on its judgments. So, they are rejected and ignored by those accused.
We also have President Trump in the USA imposing himself, not only on his own people, but on the world with his subjective and self-interested approach to politics. His imposition of tariffs, emphasis on the military, withdrawal of international aid and rebuttal of any criticism has influenced the way of international relationships. The values of justice, compassion and truth have been undermined. Trump and others have devalued these principles, instead asserting their own self-interested and nationalistic values. Those who disagree are ignored or berated. It has become harder for those with moral authority to have an influence because many leaders are less sensitive to criticism by such people. Telling investigative reports are dismissed.
I hope that this will change. Current leaders will not last. Nevertheless, it has become more difficult for the United Nations to do its work when people and nations, the USA in particular, have withdrawn support including significant financial support. Recovering this support will not necessarily take place when leadership changes occur.
The emphasis on militarism is especially unfortunate. More finances and resources than ever are going into armaments. The AUKUS agreement is indicative of this. Billions of dollars are being spent in supposed defence arrangements that primarily benefit the USA and its militaristic mindset. Australia has willingly become even more integrated into the USA military. China is proposed as the enemy despite being Australia’s largest trading partner. The real threat, as indicated earlier, is climate change not China. Yet vast amounts of money are provided for military spending rather than dealing with climate change. Australia even wants to expand its weapons manufacturing as it is a lucrative trade.
I feel like I am swimming against the tide in wanting to emphasize concern for creation, diplomacy over war, reconciliation rather than treating others as enemies, truth and integrity instead of prejudice and self-interest. Yet as I look to Jesus, I see someone who had these values even though it brought him into conflict with the Roman Empire and Jewish authorities of his day leading to a cruel and unjust death. It is easy to feel that what one holds to be valuable is not appreciated and is unrealistic in the world we actually live in. Nevertheless, I believe in God who I hold will finally bring about his rule of love, justice and peace. God did raise Jesus from the death to show that injustice and evil do not have the last say. Therefore, I am to continue to hope and seek first God’s kingdom. I can witness to it and endeavour to live by the values of the reign of God in what I say and do. I pray we might come somewhat closer to it in the years ahead.