“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15)
“The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all.” (Chief Seattle)
The recent heatwaves
It was reported recently that the weather in June this year in Europe was the hottest on record and that wildfires were ravaging France and Spain. This was followed soon after by a warning from climatologists that in the UK heatwaves would soon become normal. Furthermore, it was stated that under a 2oC global warming scenario, “some of England’s hottest areas, such as Hillingdon, Cheltenham, Cambridge, and Peterborough, are predicted by the Met Office to see new typical summer highs exceeding 36oC”.
This alarming news was then followed by the news from France and Spain that over 300,000 had been forced to flee their homes as they were threatened by spreading wildfires that were raging out of control.
It is clear that climate change is here and that the situation is only going to get worse in the short to medium term. Consequently, it is vitally important that we lower our carbon emissions both as individuals and as a species.
And while we live on a planet that can provide our needs do we have to think carefully about how we treat the planet we live on. As the slogan says, “there is no Planet B”.
The earth provides for our needs
Since the industrial revolution and the development of carboniferous capitalism, which arguably began here in North East England, humans have exploited the resources of the earth in a way that has become unsustainable. Are the earth and its resources simply here to be used by humanity or should we have a different relationship with the land, the sea and the air around us?
Not just to be used by humans
In this respect, it has been argued a variety of ethical attitudes determine how we interact with the world around us.
The first of these is described as planetary management. This attitude is summed up as humans managing the planet for their own benefit. It means that we should make the most of the resources that are available and that if the resources run out in one area, then they can be found elsewhere, or human ingenuity will come up with a suitable alternative.
A second ethical attitude is said to be stewardship linked to humans looking after the world around them and while resources may not run out nor should we waste them. Consequently, we should discourage harmful forms of growth and instead encourage beneficial forms of growth as our success as a species and as individuals depends on how well we manage the earth’s life support systems for our benefit and the rest of life as well.
Thirdly, there is what is described as environmental wisdom, which enables us to understand that we are part of the natural environment and that we suffer when we damage the health of natural ecosystems. All species are seen as deserving to exist and have the right to do so. This view claims that resources are limited and we shouldn’t waste them and so consequently any human activities that harm the natural community should be stopped or at least limited.
So, which of these environmental ethical standpoints should we follow?
As we saw above, we can see on the news just about every day now the folly and the danger of following the first path. What seems to be needed then is wisdom and an ethos of good stewardship of the earth and its resources.
Good stewardship
Good stewardship can include afforestation and reforestation, community-based wildlife conservation, sustainable agriculture practices, the idea of leaving no trace, ensuring that the water we drew use and the air we breathe are clean and a host of other practices.
We should also remember that as Alastair McIntosh and others have pointed out, the climate crisis and other environmental problems start with us and that it is us that really needs to change. If we are to prevent the climate changing to the extent that the earth is uninhabitable for our children and their children, we must make this change.
An issue of justice
It is also a simple matter of justice. It has been argued that there are six pillars of climate justice, in a world where those in Africa and Asia, who have done least to cause climate change, are suffering the most.
The six pillars of climate justice are seen as being as follows: a just transition to a low carbon or zero carbon economy; social, racial and environmental justice; indigenous climate action; community resilience and adaptation; natural climate solutions; climate education and engagement.
By following these ways, it is argued that we can use wisdom to overcome the climate crisis and build a fairer world at the same time.
A peaceful future
Similarly, it has also been argued by Bill McKibben in Here Comes the Sun, that wars today are usually caused by arguments over who controls the land where fossil fuels are found and that consequently if we can wean ourselves off fossil fuels the desire to fight over this land will decrease.
As the prophet Micah said thousands of years ago, if we can all just sit under our own fig trees and have what we need, then we can beat our swords into ploughshares and not “do war anymore”.
After all, if we all have our own solar panels and can generate our own energy, then why would we have to fight over the relatively small areas of land where fossil fuels are found? Shouldn’t we all rely on our own ‘fig trees’?
Making our peace with creation
Between 1508CE – 1511CE the Renaissance artist Raphael painted his famous School of Athens painting depicting the ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle. In the painting Plato is pointing upwards, inferring that humans are above the natural world, while Aristotle is pointing towards the earth inferring that we are part of the natural world.
For many centuries now we have gone along with Plato’s reasoning and exploited the earth for our own benefit. We have considered ourselves above creation and immune to any problems we might cause. We now know better.
It has been noted that “nature has come to be regarded as something to be used, manipulated, and enjoyed in its fullest possible way without having any accountability toward it”. As wildfires rage in Europe and people starve in the Sahel, now the time has now come for us to be accountable.
Is it not time for humanity to accept that we are part of the natural world, that we can’t just do what we want without there being serious consequences to the ecosystems across the world and ourselves and make peace with creation?
Friends of Bylines Network
There has never been a greater need for grassroots journalism that investigates the stories that really matter, holds power to account and champions the voices of everyday citizens. We are proudly powered by volunteers but what we do isn’t free.
STAND WITH US for independent, citizen-led journalism that makes democracy stronger, and you will even get some exclusive benefits.
