'Sir David Attenborough has issued a warning ahead of the UN climate summit in Glasgow that leaders must act now or “it’ll be too late” for the planet.
Cop26 has been billed as the last best chance to keep global temperature rises to no more than 1.5C, with Sir David critical of those who deny the climate crisis.
In conversation with BBC science editor David Shukman, the naturalist and broadcaster said: “Every month that passes, it becomes more and more incontrovertible, the changes to the planet that we are responsible for that are having these devastating effects.”
He added: “If we don’t act now, it will be too late. We have to do it now.”'
The banner behind me with its coloured stripes is intended to remind us of the narrow window of time we currently face in regard to addressing climate change by highlighting how we have witnessed temperatures change across the globe over the past century or more. The colour of each stripe represents the temperature of a single year, ordered from the earliest available data to now.
There is a narrow window in which we can change. The time is short, and the gate is narrow, as Jesus said to his disciples (Luke 13.22-30).
When he spoke those words, Jesus knew his time was limited. He knew Jerusalem and death was fast approaching. He knew that through his ministry in Israel God's people were being given an opportunity to respond in a new way, yet the opportunity would not be there for long. Therefore, he and his disciples travelled the length and breadth of Israel in the three years before his crucifixion to share the good news of the opportunity that was before the people but only for a short time.
They went with the message that ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ Now was the time when the Kingdom of God could be seen and touched and experienced because now was the time that God himself was with them. He sent his disciples ahead of him to say that the Kingdom of God was coming near, that it would be experienced in the time when he arrived. So, the time to respond and experience and join was now.
The Gospels, therefore, are full of urgency. Jesus' parables are stories of decision, stories in which people find out that time has beaten them and the moment for response has passed. Are we like, the wise or foolish bridesmaids? Those that were ready for the coming of the bridegroom, or not? Are we like, the farmer who built his big barns planning to eat, drink and be merry, but whose life was demanded of him that night? Or will we be like the Prodigal Son or realised change was possible and seized the moment by returning to his father and being reconciled.
Life consistently challenges us to decide in the moment. If there is one thing that the pandemic has taught us, it is that life is short, and we do not know what is around the corner. Therefore, we should not put off what we know we should do today. Our time is short, the gate is narrow, the time for decision is now.
That's certainly the case in regard to the climate emergency. 'UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa has urged countries to redouble their climate efforts or face a “destabilised world and endless suffering” as a result of the crisis.
“Overshooting the temperature goals will lead to a destabilised world and endless suffering, especially among those who have contributed the least to the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.”
A report from UN Climate Change has been produced so countries have the most up-to-date information before Cop26 and includes extra plans put forward since a full analysis on the issue in September. Ms Espinosa has said the update confirmed what the earlier report showed: “That we are nowhere near where science says we should be.”
Cop26 President Alok Sharma says the latest report makes clear that “to protect the world from the most devastating impacts of climate change, countries must take more ambitious action on emissions, and they must act now”.'
In the words of the singer-songwriter Lou Reed:
'This is no time to ignore Warnings
This is no time to clear the Plate
Let's not be sorry after the fact
And let the past become our fate
This is no time for phony Rhetoric
This is no time for political Speech
This is a time for action
Because the future's within Reach'
So, just as Jesus stated in relation to his own mission, we too need to strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able because by then it will be too late. In our current situation, that prediction would be a disaster for the generations that follow us. Amen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Counting Crows - Big Yellow Taxi.
No comments:
Post a Comment