The summer of record heat waves
Extreme weather events are becoming more common because of climate change. How can we make changes in our personal lives to better care for creation?
In our retirement, my wife and I have been blessed to travel. We were in Paris at the beginning of June, where we took a river cruise up the Seine to Normandy and remembered the sacrifices Canadian soldiers made on Juno Beach.
Unlike past vacations, the weather was a disappointment – cool (18-22°C highs) and often rainy. But we put on shells and hoodies and still saw many of the sights. We were glad the previous week’s highs (30-32°C) were over. It’s always easier to put on a sweater than to cool down in the heat.
Now, as I write this following our visit, the temperatures in Paris and across France make us thankful we experienced cooler weather. At the end of June, France experienced extreme heat, with temperatures reaching more than 40°C (104°F). That’s higher than our normal body temperature of 36°C. Such high temperatures can prove fatal if one can’t find a way to lower their body heat.
A hot summer
France, and much of Europe, is under a heat dome. Sites like the Eiffel Tower are closing or reducing hours, as is the Louvre. Most places in Europe are not equipped with the powerful air conditioners common in Canada. I’m praying for those seeking cooling centres or trapped in overheated apartments.
Extreme weather events like this are becoming more common as our climate heats up, driven by the amount of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases we pump into our atmosphere. The trend is upsetting. While climate is a long-term description of our weather, it affects the day-to-day weather we see in the news. And the result can be literally disastrous.
In Canada, we have seen rivers of rain drop large amounts of water in very short periods, causing floods. Low winter snowfalls and dry summer heat are increasing the likelihood of forest fires across the country. As carbon dioxide levels rise, we see more extreme storms, floods and droughts worldwide. The locations seem to change, but the effects are very real.
Personal change
As Christians charged with the care of creation, we need to rise to this moment and not only pray and call out our government, but also look at all our personal decisions through a creation lens. Scripture tells us prayer without action is false. What can you and I do to make a difference? Is the environmental footprint of that new car something to think about? Should it be an electric car instead? Is a heat pump in my future? How do my food choices affect creation? Should we eat less meat?
Often, there is no single right answer to these questions. The solutions can differ for each of us. But in all our actions we are called to faithfully care for creation. As God loves us we must, in turn, love his world.
