Question 1:
INSTRUCTIONS
“We see so much suffering around us – sickness, depression, loneliness and loss of meaning; and this suffering truly calls our hearts to act. Now, my dear young friend, when one talks about these climate problems, they are so far away, both in time and space – for, after all, the great calamities predicted will happen decades from now and mostly in the global south. You cannot expect people’s hearts and minds to be concerned about something so remote.”
- Consider his claim from a psychological perspective – what psychological phenomenon does his viewpoint manifest?
- Critique his claim from an ethical perspective.
- “Instead of spending so much of our limited resources on something that might happen in the future, we should deal now with our present problems. Once climate does become a serious, civilization-risking issue, we could turn to heavy-duty technological means. Aren’t scientists developing geo-engineering solutions exactly for that purpose?”
- Explain what geo-engineering is and its approach to solving climate change.
- Describe a prominent geo-engineering technology and argue why it is problematic to put our trust in this kind of solutions, as the pastor does.
“Oh my… you young people are knowledgeable about this stuff! Liberal arts education is surely no waste of time! So, I’m going to dig your mind about something which truly concerns me: I hear more and more people saying that the church, or Christianity itself, played a role in bringing us to the present ecological crisis. Only that I just fail to see how this is so. After all, we didn’t start or even significantly contribute to industrialization, so I can’t see how we pollute more than others. We preach for modesty, for God’s sake! So please, guide me. What historical role did we play in the process?”
Relying on Lynn White’s article clarify the Judeo-Christian tradition’s contributions to our present ecological crisis.
Offer the pastor a constructive way in which Christianity can become part of the solution.
Question 2:
- You are on an adventurous group tour in Alaska. It’s summer, and the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful; life is everywhere. The rest of the group is basking in the sun, celebrating their good luck of being in short sleeves within the polar circle. You reach a magnificent, though muddy, prairie that extends as far as the eye can see, scattershot with little ponds – pleasant albeit smelly. You’re asked by one of your tour-mates: why the long face? Why don’t you just join us and jump into the ponds? Be a party-pooper and enlighten your friends as to the reasons for your despondency. Make sure to touch on all the following issues:
What are the little smelly ponds you behold? What causes the smell? Why are they alarming? How are they related to climate change?
What are feedback loops? What two feedback loops have to do with the polar circle?
A group member asks “if the average temperature on earth increased only around 1 degree (Celsius) since pre-industrial times, as scientist claim, why is the effect here in the polar circle is so significant?” Try to answer this question.
- Who might profit from the warming of the polar circle, and in what ways?