Fracking & Climate Change
Two environmental issues are much in the news.
One which has come into the news more recently is “fracking”, the process of extracting gas from shale deposits in an attempt to produce more energy resources. Environmental groups are almost universally opposed citing potential damage to drinking water reserves, water usage and the potential for mini-earthquakes.
In contrast, the commercial operators suggest that this is a vital energy resource which will cause minimal environmental damage:
The jury is still out. An article putting both sides of the case is here:
Brian Bell has written a well researched paper in support of fracking as a response to a link in StAR publicised by the Diocesan Ecology Officer. Brian’s paper which includes comments on climate change is published separately on this site.
Climate change is never very far from the news. The United Nations International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has published another report which highlights the damage humans are causing to the only planet we have. The prevailing wisdom is that a considerable amount of recent global climate change is the result of human activity and that if it continues at the same pace the changes in climate and sea levels will be catastrophic. A useful analysis of the report is here:
Useful websites include:
CAFOD's responseto UN report
New CAFOD & IIED paper ondesigning energy delivery models that work for people living in poverty(English and Spanish)
The data is more nuanced than the newspaper headlines and those who take an opposing view often receive rough treatment in the media. However I am grateful to Brian Bell for writing a carefully argued and referenced challenge to the prevailing view which is published separately on this site.
The Old Testament paints many pictures which suggest that we are tenants/stewards of creation for “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” (Ps24). Jesus’ parables often refer to tenants and stewards.
How we use that creation and for whose benefit are questions we need to address. Somewhere gathering dust on vicarage bookshelves is John Davies’ God at Work written as a resource book for the diocese in 2001. It might be worth dusting it off and using it as the basis for a discussion group. Jennifer Phillips’ Preaching Creation throughout the Church Year (Cowley Publications 2000) is also a useful resource for helping us to become better able to reflect as Christians on the issues of our stewardship of creation and the Iona Books website has many resources for prayer and reflection
Nothing in this paper represents a Diocesan or Engaging Steering Group view of the matters concerned. The material and links are provided so that Christians may be better informed and through study, debate and prayer and so come to a view on their responsibility for God’s creation.