“There is increasing evidence we’ve now entered a period of global climate and ecological instability, just as scientists have been predicting for years. A few recent examples:

• World’s hottest day twice in one week:  The record for the hottest day worldwide was broken twice in a week – see more here. Many places have broken heat records, with temperatures over 52°C recorded in 2024 in Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UAE, USA. India also had an unbearable heatwave, killing dozens and with an unofficial 52.9C recorded in Delhi.
• Wildfires: in Alberta, Canada, a monster blaze with a wall of fire 100m tall  destroyed much of the town of Jasper – fire chiefs said they were powerless to stop it. in Western USA, high temperatures are causing multiple wildfires especially in California and in Oregon, where more than 1 million acres (405,000 hectares) have burned in less than a month.
• Typhoons, Cyclones & Hurricanes: Typhoon Gaemi killed dozens in Philippines, Taiwan and southern China, causing floods and landslides; The US Government NOAA predicted an 85% chance this year would see an above normal hurricane season, and already Hurricane Beryl has been the earliest ever Category 5 hurricane, causing devastation to Carriacou, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela.
• Droughts and Floods: Some places have suffered catastrophic droughts in 2024 including Southern Africa, countries around the Mediterranean and Black Sea, Brazil. Meanwhile, devastating floods have also affected Brazil, as well as Argentina, Uruguay, France, Germany, Oman, Afghanistan, Indonesia. In Papua New Guinea, thousands died in a landslide in Enga. The cause is disputed, with possible factors including heavy rainfall, deforestation due to gold mining, an earthquake, and climate change.

As Christians, we need to respond first with lament and prayer, holding the human and nonhuman victims of these disasters in God’s presence, and repenting for our own and our society’s burning of fossil fuels and the selfish, greedy lifestyles that underlie these disasters. We also need to seek wisdom from God’s word and God’s Spirit as we discern the ‘signs of the times’ as reported in the media. We should fact-check carefully and be careful not to fall into the traps of doom-mongering (it’s too late, don’t bother trying to do anything) or false hope (it’s not that bad. God or new technology will save us).

Then we need to act, examining our own lifestyles, challenging our churches, lobbying local and national governments, and doing whatever we can at a local level.”

The United Nation’s version of Earth Day, World Environment Day will be observed in many of our countries around the world on Friday, June 5. It is being officially hosted by Colombia and Germany with a theme of biodiversity. We hope you will take part wherever you are.

The World Environment Day webpage is here.

There will probably be a number of webinars and other online events marking the day. One that we are aware of is Connexions: Sustainable Food, Ecosystems and Biodiversity sponsored by the UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies.

In this webinar we’ll explore why biodiversity and ecosystems management are important components for building sustainable food systems. You’ll hear from researchers working directly with communities engaged in food production practices that are centred on biodiverse ecosystems. Drawing on community-based research in Brazil, Ecuador, and the Northwest Territories, you’ll learn about the unique challenges facing food systems actors and how communities are using agroforestry and other ecological food production principles to guide their work. 

Register for the webinar here.

If you want resources for your church, check out EFICOR’s Eco-Sunday materials here.

Are you ready for the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly that will take place in Nairobi 22-26 February 2021. The theme for the fifth session has been decided by the Bureau of the Assembly and reads as follows: “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”.  Although UNEA is still over a year ahead, but it is now where we start debating relevant issues, propose resolutions for adoption, preparing papers for submission and planning for special events. I will keep everyone informed of the progression of the preparations, but certainly we need to reflect on the faith-based perspectives of what is meant by “Strengthening Actions for Nature”? Last UNEA. We had 200 faith leaders participating for the first time, but with more than 45 FBOs already accredited to UNEP, we are expecting not only a massive participation, but also policy implications and impact. Please keep monitoring the UNEA space.