Re: [asa] John Houghton on AR4

On Mar 4, 2007, at 8:48 PM, Janice Matchett wrote:

> At 06:11 PM 3/4/2007, Rich Blinne wrote:
>
>> Sir John Houghton is largely responsible for awakening
>> evangelicals to the need for action on climate change.
>
> @ It's amazing he still has any credibility after he said that "
> human induced global warming is a weapon of mass destruction at
> least as dangerous as chemical, nuclear or biological weapons that
> kills more people than terrorism." ~ John Houghton Monday July 28,
> 2003
>

The presentation that gave him credibility was this which he
presented to the NAE. Unlike Janice, not all evangelicals blind
themselves to evidence. The NAE members who saw this presentation saw
not only how compelling the science was but also the moral and
Biblical imperative behind what he had to say. Note particularly Sir
John's conclusion. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Burke quote
will find its way into my sig.

> In the Domesday Lectures on Radio 4 in the UK given 3 or 4 years
> ago, Sir Crispin Tickell said "we know what to do but we don't have
> the will to do it". Lack of will is not a new problem, of course,
> for humans. It is largely a moral and spiritual problem, one that
> St. Paul presented in his letter to the Romans (Romans 7 v18) in
> the New Testament commenting that he had not completely solved it
> for himself in his own experience. People often say to me, "the
> problem is so big, it will never be solved; you're not going to get
> anywhere, the politicians will never agree, greedy people will
> never change their ways." So, why am I optimistic?
>
> Let me give you three reasons. First, I have experienced the
> scientific community, many hundreds of scientists from a wide range
> of countries, ideologies, disciplines and backgrounds, come
> together with great commitment to agree a scientific assessment of
> likely climate change. Secondly, the necessary technology is
> available, or is becoming available and industry is beginning to
> see climate change as an issue that provides great opportunities
> for technical advance. And thirdly, I am a Christian, and I believe
> that God is committed to his creation, a commitment he has
> demonstrated by sending Jesus into the world to be the saviour of
> the human race. In delegating to humans the care of his creation,
> God has not left us to do it on our own. That he is there to help
> us with the great task has been a great source of strength to me in
> my work with the IPCC. I felt this particularly strongly as a few
> of us met for prayer during the very demanding IPCC Plenary in
> Shanghai.
>
> Finally let me comment again on the need for commitment. If human
> communities are to be fulfilled and creative, they not only need
> goals related to economic performance but also moral and spiritual
> goals. Care for the overall health of the planet is such a goal.
> Scientists are already working hard and in concert to provide
> better information about likely climate change, governments in the
> FCCC have begun to set the necessary framework for change, and
> business and industry are beginning to recognise the need for
> action and the opportunities for innovation in new technologies. It
> is up to all of us as world citizens to support the action being
> taken and contribute to it.
> Let me finish with a quotation which comes from Edmund Burke, a
> British parliamentarian of 200 years ago, who gave a great
> environmental message. He said "Nobody made a greater mistake than
> he who did nothing because he could only do a little".

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Received on Sun Mar 4 23:34:15 2007