Bishop of London: Contributing to Climate Change is a Sin
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.24.06
The Bishop of London has declared that contributing to climate change by flying on holiday, driving a “gas-guzzling” car or failing to use energy-saving measures in the home is sinful. Richard Chartres will emphasize that it is a moral obligation for Christians to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle, and will encourage vicars to preach more green sermons. Chartres, who chairs the bishops’ panel on the environment, said: “There is now an overriding imperative to walk more lightly upon the earth and we need to make our lifestyle decisions in that light. Making selfish choices such as flying on holiday or buying a large car are a symptom of sin. Sin is not just a restricted list of moral mistakes. It is living a life turned in on itself where people ignore the consequences of their actions.” The third most senior bishop in the Church of England, Chartres has declared his views as it prepares to publish Treasures on Earth, a booklet on environmental matters to be sent to every diocese for distribution. Among other things, the booklet will say that scientific research supporting predictions that the earth faces serious climate change is “overwhelming”. It will also detail practical ways for Christians to cut their carbon emissions, at church and at home, including trying to walk or cycle to communion. The church will also step up its efforts to cut carbon emissions, asking vicars to conduct energy audits to help individual churches reduce their carbon footprints. A similar story here in the States made a big splash earlier this year. ::Times Online via ::Green Car Congress
To get the Pope to do the same. What might happen?
Yes, that's a great idea! Get the Pope to go green!
A dumb meme that keeps getting dumber. It's an irrelevant contributor to climate change and will remain so for many years.
People need to travel more, not less. The last thing we need is reducing understanding among people of the world.
So is this reversing the Church's postion to "breed as much as possible?" Perhaps if people had less kids, they wouldn't need the gas guzzlers to haul the hordes around.
Hmmm.... If the Lord had intended us to fly he would have given us wings....
Hmmm.... If the Lord had intended us to fly he would have given us wings....
We're hairless apes. Should we sit around in trees, eat bananas, and throw feces at each other?
It's called Progress.
"A dumb meme that keeps getting dumber. It's an irrelevant contributor to climate change and will remain so for many years.
People need to travel more, not less. The last thing we need is reducing understanding among people of the world."
My husband and I have been tracking our carbon footprint and we discovered that our single (non-international) flight for our vacation doubled our carbon output for the year. How is this not significant?
Undoubtedly we need to continue to encourage cultural exchange, but we should think of new ways for it to happen rather than depending on old technologies, the same as we are with our housing, food, energy, etc. Perhaps the further creation of international light rail systems might be an alternative to highly-pollutant air travel? Here in the U.S. the airlines are beginning to fall apart anyhow.
Helping to pollute the world that sustains you .... yup, that's Progress
My husband and I have been tracking our carbon footprint and we discovered that our single (non-international) flight for our vacation doubled our carbon output for the year. How is this not significant?
Because very few people on the planet travel by air. Your personal footprint is insignificant, one way or another, with respect to global emissions.
Undoubtedly we need to continue to encourage cultural exchange, but we should think of new ways for it to happen rather than depending on old technologies, the same as we are with our housing, food, energy, etc. Perhaps the further creation of international light rail systems might be an alternative to highly-pollutant air travel? Here in the U.S. the airlines are beginning to fall apart anyhow.
I agree. The problem with green-types is that they tend to just throw away progress when the sky is falling. Very few people are going to get behind that attitude.
Helping to pollute the world that sustains you .... yup, that's Progress
Air flights make up maybe 1-2% of net carbon emissions. And that's not going to change significantly for a very long time.
Don't focus on the trivial.
All I see is a bunch of dumb, hairless, faceless apes throwing feces at each other.
If lack of public participation in environmental protection is sinful, then governments of the civilized world should already be burning in hell. The first demonstration that carbon dioxide levels in the air increase as a result of the use of fossil fuels took place in the 1950's. With all of the resources available since then, why is it that we do not have clean alternative fuel by now? This is not the fault of the general public. Only governments had the money and power to make that happen. Shame on them, for not living up to their responsibilities then trying to pass the buck and the blame to us.
Each year many thousands of visitors to Canterbury Cathedral arrive by coach. The City already endures severe traffic congestion and proven unacceptable levels of air pollution. In spite of this a new coach park is being planned. Coaches will be accommodated along the lovely riverside in the cathedral view corridor. Mature trees will be felled, ten metre high floodlights will be erected and new approach roads built. Thus, for no other reason than to increase revenue from tourism and bring visitors 400m nearer to the cathedral, a permanent dagger of pollution will be driven into the very heart of this Cathedral city and World Heritage site.
How does this fit in with the Bishop of London’s plea to ‘walk more lightly upon the earth…’ ?
I ask church leaders to take this opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the initiatives proposed in the Treasures on Earth document. Visit the city. Speak out about this destructive plan. Let the battle against ever increasing environmental pollution and eventual climate change begin on the very doorstep of the Cathedral.
This would be the same Bishop of London who recently returned from a faith-related conference in Milan. Perhaps our honourable' friend might like to elaborate on how he reached Milan; if by plane, how was this any more moral than a holiday? This the 21st Century - if he really believes in this 'flying is a sin' rubbish I'm sure a satellite link-up or similar would have been achievable.
If not by plane, then how? Train? If so, perhaps he'd like to provide us with a 'carbon footprint' of his trip.
I'm not a Christian, and I'm not interested in what this man does or does not consider a sin. I do know that arrogance and hypocrisy are deeply unattractive traits.
Why talk about carbon credits, sin etc etc when alternative solutions are available? Governments should be actively promoting solutions such as those listed below instead of trying to control people through fear and guilt tripping [ from the church this time! ].
The following may be of interest.
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Air Car: youtube.com
Water Fuel Car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rb_rDkwGnU
Turning salt water into fuel: here
Making Gasoline from Carbon Dioxide: http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=18582