Global Climate Change as a Moral Issue

Cassandra Carmichael

Eileen Claussen

Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb

Ned Stowe

This show offers a comprehensive discussion of the global climate crisis by people of faith who know the issue, and who care.

The panel is unanimous in accepting the consensus most recently articulated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: namely, that climate change is real, it is caused in large measure by the emission of human-produced greenhouse gases, and we have only a decade – maybe two – to take serious action to reverse it. Why is it a moral issue? Our panelists answered by pointing to the most vulnerable people on earth as those who will bear the brunt of disastrous flooding, storms and droughts.

They cited “intergenerational justice” as an ethical concern, because the effects of the current emissions of greenhouse gases will fall hardest on coming generations. And Rabbi Dobb said that we insult the Creator of the universe when we fail to care for the planet and protect its biodiversity. What do the panelists believe is the state of the crisis at the moment? In a word, dire. When do they believe is action needed: yesterday. What needs to happen? The panel was unanimous that voluntary actions, worthy as they might be, are not enough.

They agreed that regulatory legislation is needed at the domestic level, and once the U.S. has a credible climate policy, then U.S. leadership is needed at the international level to go beyond the requirements of the Kyoto Treaty. Eileen Claussen noted that there has been a flurry of activity on this issue in the new Congress the likes of which has not been seen before. The panelists acknowledged that technological advancements may alleviate some of the worst effects of climate change, but lifestyle changes will be necessary as well – a place where the leadership of the faith community is crucial. Several panelists spoke to the need for simplifying lifestyles, moving away from the pervasive U.S. consumerist model of living.

On the international level, all agreed, we cannot deny nations like China and India the right to development. What we can do is assist them in environmentally sustainable development, perhaps with an all-out global “Apollo program” exporting appropriate technologies. The prognosis? The panelists were split. Some said we cannot avert all disaster, but if we act, we can avert the worst of it. Others were more optimistic.