Care for God’s Creation
Mariano Gutierrez Moran, a CRS program participant from Guatemala, looks after his newly planted coffee plants in his land.
Care for God’s creation and the environment “represents a challenge for all of humanity. It is a matter of a common and universal duty, that of respecting a common good” (Centesimus Annus). Among one of the factors impacting the environment and vulnerable people is climate change, especially as it relates to extractives industries.
Climate change refers to extended periods of change in the state of the climate that may be due to natural or external forces. Climate change can create or exacerbate extreme weather phenomena such as drought and flood, and alter typical rainfall patterns. These climate changes can lead to serious problems for agriculture-based livelihoods, including lower crop yields for farmers and the permanent loss of suitable growing conditions for specific crops. In reference to the impacts of climate change, Bishop Stephen E. Blaire from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has emphasized, “These impacts often multiply the hardship experienced by the most vulnerable people in the world. Pope Benedict [consistently drew] attention to these issues and urge[d] all to take moral responsibility to reduce our environmental impact and our carbon footprint” (Catholic Coalition on Climate Change).
We are challenged now more than ever to reduce the impacts our human activity has on our climate, especially our use and exploitation of natural resources. In line with the social teaching of the Church, extractive industries “must be put at the service of all humanity.” Extractive industries emit large amounts of greenhouse gases and consume fossil fuels, worsening climate change. While some impacts like soil erosion may be difficult to imagine, most people can easily conjure up an image of an oil spill with blackened water and birds covered in the black material.
In the best case scenario, countries that have extractive industry projects will have strict and comprehensive environmental protection regulations that try to prevent or mitigate damage to the environment, and companies will have their own set of internal environmental policies to do the same. Yet, in many developing countries natural resources regulations and policies are weak or nonexistent.
Around the world, Catholic Relief Services is witnessing first-hand the effects of environmental degradation and climate change on poor and vulnerable people and is committed to taking action on this critical issue. In its 2012 “Tortillas on the Roaster” report, CRS forecasted the impacts of climate change on corn and beans in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. CRS has carried out similar forecasting and livelihoods adaptation initiatives for coffee and cocoa growers as well.
Unprecedented attention on climate change and efforts to find solutions to reduce it give some reason for optimism. In Guatemala, CRS’ agricultural programs are helping farmers adapt to new and less predictable weather conditions by diversifying crops and implementing soil and water management practices. The Catholic Church has a long tradition of teaching and action to care for God’s creation. Through the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, for example, CRS has teamed up with partners to work towards solutions.