The Affects of Climate Change and Why It Is Important to Catholics
Climate Change Affects
“The climate is changing and humans are both contributing to this change and being affected by it”1. This basic statement has skeptics and supporters alike. But whether you agree with this statement or not, science has documented a clear increase in average temperatures that statistical variation alone cannot account for2.
Changing climate means changing weather patterns. Extreme weather events have been well documented in the news. From Hurricane Katrina in the south to flooding on the Red River in the north, wildfires due to drought in Australia and a massive heat wave in Europe, these events “will continue to increase and, in turn, affect coastal communities, human health, water quality and availability and crop yields.”3 When these extreme weather events occur, everyone is affected.
Extreme weather events that occur due to climate change have an impact on human health. Heat waves, floods and storms have a direct affect on everyone, and those at greatest risk are those who have the least ability to adapt to these events: the elderly, the infirm, and the poor. In Europe, the summer 2003 heat wave was the worst experienced in that region in 500 years. Officials estimate that 30,000 to 50,000 people died due in part to this heat wave.4 Those who are poor and cannot afford adequate shelter from such excessive heat or those who are ill and cannot recover as quickly from this kind of weather event are at much greater risk.
What does climate change mean from a faith perspective?
As disciples of Jesus, we are reminded that “whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me” (Mt 25:40). The disproportionate affect that climate change has on those who are elderly, infirm or poor means we need to respond to this growing problem. To respond, it is important to know the root causes of climate change.
Climate change is caused by human activities such as adding heat-trapping gasses such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide to the atmosphere. These heat-trapping gasses are commonly called Greenhouse Gasses (GHGs) because they reflect heat back to the surface much like how windows of a greenhouse retain the sun’s heat. All of these gasses occur naturally, but human activity is adding more amounts of these gasses: increases of 35%, 148% and 18% respectively compared with pre-industrial concentrations.5 More GHGs means more heat trapped in the atmosphere, creating an enhanced greenhouse effect.
“Carbon dioxide is the principal heat-trapping gas that contributes to an enhanced greenhouse effect.”6 Burning coal, oil and natural gas creates about 80% of carbon dioxide emissions. The other 20% comes from changes in how we manage land surfaces, primarily through the release of carbon dioxide due to trees burned in deforestation.7 The more we consume carbon-releasing products, the more GHGs we are releasing into the atmosphere.
Simulation Activity
This simulation activity will demonstrate the effect of adding more of something to a limited area. The only material needed for this activity is a 3’ x 3’ wooden box that can hold the weight of a group of people a few inches up from the ground.
Invite a group of 6 people to stand up together on the box without any part of their bodies touching the ground. The people standing on the box represent the level of naturally occurring GHGs in the atmosphere. The box represents the atmosphere’s normal capacity for GHGs. Since there is enough room on the box, the group of 6 should be able to achieve their goal relatively easily.
Now double the size of the group and invite the 12 people to work together as a group to stand up on the box. With some problem-solving and teamwork, everyone should be able to stand on the box for a few moments. The larger group represents an increase in the amount of GHGs due to human activity.
Group Process
Ask the group their observations on the differences between the smaller group and the larger group trying to stand on the box. How does this experience translate into what is happening right now in our own atmosphere? What can we do about that? How does the greenhouse effect disproportionally impact the poor, elderly and infirm?
Variation
This variation demonstrates what happens when the ability of the environment to handle GHGs is diminished. A 2’ x 2’ box is needed for this activity. Start with the activity above. After the larger group is successful with the activity on the larger box, invite the group to try to stand on the smaller box. The smaller box represents our environment’s decreased ability to deal with the amount of GHGs being released into the atmosphere. This decreased ability can be caused by deforestation since trees use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis.
Notes
1 Page 1, Science and Impacts. Climate Change 101: Understanding and Responding to Global Climate Change published by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the Pew Center on the States, January 2009.
2 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Summary for Policymakers.” Published in Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
3 Page 6, Science and Impacts. Climate Change 101: Understanding and Responding to Global Climate Change published by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the Pew Center on the States, January 2009.
4 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Summary for Policymakers.” Published in Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
5 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Summary for Policymakers.” Published in Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
6 Page 3, Science and Impacts. Climate Change 101: Understanding and Responding to Global Climate Change published by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the Pew Center on the States, January 2009.