The New Ark

Cassandra Carmichael, National Religious Partnership for the Environment

Most people, particularly Jews and Christians, know the story of Noah and the ark. Noah is tasked by God to build an ark and place animals of every kind — two by two, male and female — on the ark while the earth is flooded because of humankind’s sins. Noah takes on the responsibility and delivers each animal to safety at the conclusion of the flood, thus saving creation.

​This is an apt metaphor for today’s climate crisis. Humankind is bringing about a horrific change in the Earth’s climate — increased droughts, disease, and species loss. As noted in the series Years of Living Dangerously, these changes have consequences on every living and nonliving thing, since we are all interconnected.

In the episode, “Priceless,” some of the health impacts of climate change were noted. Although what was not noted is the fact that minority communities will bear the disproportionate burden of these health impacts. The health disparities that exist in communities of color are both real and life threatening. Children are becoming the canary in the coalmine as asthma rates in black children are on the rise. This is a direct of poor air quality and climate change.

​For the health and economic vitality of our communities we need to embrace a clean energy future. The aging of coal fire power plants in the United States are the symbol that we need to prepare for the jobs associated for the new renewable energy economy. Communities that are in the shadow of coal-fired power plants have a right and deserve a change to join in the just transition of their economies towards this future.

In the “Priceless” episode of Years of Living Dangerously, the phrase “it is our responsibility,” was often repeated in reply to the question of “what do we do about climate change.” And, certainly as a person of faith, I couldn’t agree more. In the Christian faith we believe that we are stewards of the earth God provided.

I can’t imagine how Noah would have felt if, after every other board was attached to the ark, someone came and removed it. The ark would have never been built or at the worst sank at sea, all of its fragile cargo — human and non-human — lost forever.

And yet, that is what is happening today as we refuse to act collectively on climate change.

We must work to address climate change not only because it is our duty as stewards of God’s creation but because we are all intricately linked together. Both our faith and the best available science teach us that each living and nonliving entity has a unique role to play in the web of creation, and that we must conserve the delicately balanced ecosystems on which our own lives depend.

God commanded Noah to save every species of animal, from lowly worm to mighty eagle, because every creature mattered as part of God’s creation. But God also did not provide Noah with an ark or save the world’s animals with an outstretched arm; it was Noah’s job to build the ark, one plank of wood at a time, and any lapse into selfishness or laziness could have sunk the ship.

​Now the responsibility of ark-building has passed to us. As we come to terms with the sobering effects of climate change and pledge to stand alongside our allies around the world in protecting the earth for future generations, we should be fighting harder than ever to work towards a clean energy economy and a world unencumbered by climate change. Like Noah, we must take up the task of environmental stewardship with care and concern for every detail, guided by our values, our faith, and good old-fashioned common sense.

Cassandra Carmichael, Executive Director, National Religious Partnership for the Environment.