U.S. Blocking Climate Conference

While trying not to appear as if it is blocking progress at the UN climate change conference in Bali, our government nevertheless has refused to agree to mandatory greenhouse gas reduction goals. Our government would rather like to hammer out a voluntary agreement at a U.S. hosted conference next month. Citing what they perceive to be a refusal on the part of the U.S. to negotiate an agreement in good faith, European Union leaders, led by Germany, have threatened to boycott the U.S. conference if the Bali conference ends in failure.

It is just sad that our government has refused to work with our allies and the global community to find a solution to this problem. Our government has previously refused to sign the Kyoto agreement because it did not include developing nations who are also large producers of greenhouse gasses such as India and China. That was understandable. But, now there is an opportunity to work on a new agreement that would replace Kyoto, and our government still refuses to cooperate.

As I have said before, climate change is a moral issue. We are required by divine law to be good stewards of the blessings and resources that God has given us (Gen 2:15). Further, we are required by divine law to protect the weak and poor among us (Matt 5:42, Matt 7:12, Phil 2:4, Heb 13:16, 1John 3:17), and they will be most affected by climate change. Without getting too deep into a theological discussion here, I would like to say that it could be argued that our reliance on technology instead of God is a sin (Psalm 118:8). The consequence of that sin is pollution which, like all sins, leads to death. I pray that our leaders will see this and try to do more to combat this problem.

–J.E. Heath
per-fidem.org

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