Refusing to cool our heels

By THE REV. MARGARET BULLITT-JONAS

Published on October 16, 2009

In another of his salvos on behalf of climate skeptics, columnist George Will recently argued in The Washington Post that "evidence" of climate change is "elusive," and derided "climate alarmists" for their "apocalyptic warnings." In fact, scientists continue to present strong evidence that the dramatic recent warming of the planet is largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and gas).

The September 2009 United Nations Environment Programme report that Will cites as an example of "stridency" provides solid data that undercuts his persistent claim that global warming is nothing to worry about. The U.N. report found that the Earth is committed to a warming of at least 1.6 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. It also highlighted some of the effects of global warming that scientists are already observing, such as accelerated shrinking of mountain glaciers, sea ice, and ice shelves in different parts of the world, along with higher temperatures in the ocean, acidification, and coral bleaching. As U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon writes in the report's foreword, "We need the world to realize, once and for all, that the time to act is now and we must work together to address this monumental challenge. This is the moral challenge of our generation."

Contrary to Will's fond hope that climate change is only a myth or hoax, humanity is facing a decisive choice. Will the world's political leaders work to make swift, dramatic cuts in emissions and to help vulnerable countries to adapt? Or will future generations look back at the first decade of the 21st century as the period when policymakers decided to do nothing to limit climate change? When collectively the human race simply shrugged and decided that the battle to save the Earth was over before it had begun?

In December, representatives of about 190 nations will come together in Copenhagen, Denmark, to negotiate a new climate change agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol. The outcome of this meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is crucial. The accelerating pace and scale of worldwide climate change require a global response.

The bad news is that so far top-level political negotiations seem to be stalled.

The good news is that the growing, grassroots worldwide climate movement is pressing for an international treaty that is strong, fair, and takes into account the deepening climate crisis. A series of efforts to mobilize the international community begins on Oct. 24, when millions of people around the world will participate in rallies to call for stabilizing the level of carbon dioxide at a safe upper limit of 350 parts per million. Led by Bill McKibben and 350.org, the day promises, as climate activist Ted Glick has written, "to give a major push to the efforts for a treaty that is commensurate with the seriousness of the climate crisis."

With the kind of dramatic flourish that people in the Pioneer Valley know so well how to pull off, here on the Amherst town common we will hold a big noon-time rally on Oct. 24 that includes drummers drumming, church bells ringing, animal and maple leaf props flying high, and "climate theater" that features a 350 maple tree "die-in." Images from our event and similar events around the world will be broadcast in Times Square. More information is available at 350amherst.org.

I, for one, refuse to believe that human beings will simply cool our heels and resign ourselves to living in a world of violent weather as we placidly bid our glaciers, coral reefs and alpine forests goodbye. I refuse to believe that we will not stand up to climate skeptics and do everything in our power to pass along to our children and our children's children a world whose living diversity and stable climate resembles the world into which we were born. This is indeed the moral challenge of our generation, and it is a privilege to take part in this great work.

Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, priest associate at Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst, is a writer, retreat leader and climate activist.