New culture and politics in climate emergency

 

The mitigation of the effects of the climate emergency will require a change in the attitude of people to our relationship with the planet.

Attitudes for trouble

 

Peter Sutoris, an anthropologist of development and the environment, and the author of Educating for the Anthropocene, writes in The Guardian that the climate crisis requires a new culture and politics, not just new tech

Peter Sutoris writes that our civilisation is underpinned by extractivism, a belief that the Earth is ours to exploit, and the nonsensical idea of infinite growth within a finite territory. Material possessions as markers of achievement, a drive to consume for the sake of consumption, and blindness to the long-term consequences of our actions, have all become part of the culture of global capitalism.1

belief that the Earth is ours to exploit

idea of infinite growth

material possessions as markers of achievement

consume for the sake of consumption

blindness to the long-term consequences

Vatican News announces Pope Francis book of reflections on the environment. Pope Francis develops the 'theology of ecology' in a profoundly spiritual discourse. Creation, the Pope says, is the fruit of God's love: His love for each of His creatures, and especially for man, to whom He has given the gift of creation, as a place in which "we are invited to discover a presence". He cautions that a technological revolution and individual commitment are not enough.

The Pope explains that the exploitation of resources, in an irresponsible way, in order to gain power and wealth, that is then concentrated in the hands of a few people, creates an imbalance destined to destroy the world, and humanity itself. The Holy Father, however, cautions that a technological revolution and individual commitment are not enough. Awareness, he says, is gained primarily through an "authentic spirit of communion".... We must start again from forgiveness: asking forgiveness of the poor and the exclusive, first of all, in order to be capable of asking forgiveness also of "the earth, the sea, the air, the animals…" For Pope Francis, seeking forgiveness means totally revising one's own way of thinking; it means profound personal renewal. Forgiveness, he says, is only possible in and through the Holy Spirit. It is a grace to be implored humbly from the Lord. Forgiveness, then, is to become active, undertaking a journey together, and never in solitude....2

A technological revolution and individual commitment are not enough to mitigate the effects of the climate emergency on the environment, water resources, and biodiversity.

 

Focus of Pope Francis Encyclical Laudato Si

Our communal spiritual relationship with nature needs to mature.

 

References

 

1	(2021, May 24). The climate crisis requires a new culture and politics, not just new tech. Retrieved May 24, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/24/climate-change-crisis-culture-politics-technology
2	(2019, October 24). New book from Pope Francis on 'Christian foundations for .... Retrieved October 24, 2019, from https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/38158