Climate Clock Celebration
On November 15, I had the privilege of speaking in the PA state capitol to celebrate the climate clock’s continued presence under the east rotunda. I shared the podium with others who have a passion for ecology and justice. You can read more about the event here. My address follows.
In Isaiah 24, the prophet writes that the earth will be laid to waste, polluted, with its surface twisted and its inhabitants scattered. Reading that scripture today, it’s hard not to think about the soaring temperatures and wildfires causing discomfort, destruction, and suffering around the world.
Why is the earth being laid waste in Isaiah 24? Because the people have transgressed laws and broken the everlasting covenant. Why now is the earth’s surface being twisted and its inhabitants scattered? Because we have not acted quickly enough in response to what God has made obvious all around us. We’ve taken the gifts of creation for granted, failed to follow our covenants and act as good stewards, and ignored the message of Matthew 25, which instructs us to watch out for those on the margins.
The climate clock reminds me a bit of Isaiah, though rather than offering prophecy verbally, it does so symbolically.
Unfortunately, the collective response from those in this building fails to recognize that, even among those who claim to be people of faith. Far more financial incentives are given by politicians to the fossil fuel industry than to solutions that recognize our instructions in Genesis to be good stewards of the earth. So those who would realize temporary financial gain do so with the support of our elected officials, even if it means the consequences will be suffered by future generations. We live in a state where it is legal for natural gas companies to bribe our legislators. In the words of Isaiah, “the treacherous deal treacherously, the treacherous deal very treacherously.”
They are willing to sacrifice our future and our health on the altar of jobs and lower energy costs. Yet the fracking jobs go to non-residents, the companies that profit lie across state lines, and pipelines and trucks carry the fuel we produce elsewhere, so energy costs continue to rise in Pennsylvania.
In the time of Isaiah, it was often invading armies who laid waste to the earth. Unfortunately, some things haven’t changed. Vladimir Putin’s army has invaded the Ukraine, and that invasion is subsidized by fossil fuels. Now the people of Ukraine are suffering, their lands are being twisted and made desolate, and the rest of the world is experiencing the worst rate of inflation in decades.
This could have been avoided. Had our government officials begun a serious investment in sustainable energy sooner, the power of the world’s corrupt governments and oligarchs — and coaligarchs — would be diminished. The science was there and the solutions were there. Unfortunately, the will was not. For many politicians, the allure of money from gas and oil companies is more important than the needs of our children, and thus they’ve kept our economy dependent on fossil fuels.
We’ve all benefited from outdated and damaging energy sources, but now it’s time to repent and forge a new way forward, a way of living that does less damage to our sisters, brothers, and the rest of creation. God has given us the sun and wind, and the science that shows us how to harness that energy. We can adopt more sustainable ways of living personally, and encourage our elected officials to promote sustainability at the policy level.
Like Isaiah 24, the climate clock reminds us of the consequences that result from unharmonious, unjust policy and practice. I’m grateful for its presence, and pray those who pass heed its prophecy.
