The book of Genesis gives us a number of helpful truths about the nature of human beings and our relationship with the rest of creation.  Among those truths are: 

(1) God’s creation is good. 

(2) Human beings are part of that creation and are, first and foremost, good. 

(3) Human beings are given the special job of good stewardship over the rest of creation.

And yet, much of the time, we human beings behave very badly.  Despite overwhelming evidence by nearly all experts in the matter that existential changes are happening in earth’s climate and that those changes are occurring as a result of human activity, many of us resist repenting of our bad behavior.  And many of our leaders resist making the politically unpopular yet clearly necessary decisions to protect the natural world (including us human beings). It can be so discouraging, so disheartening.  

Sometimes, however, we humans do see clearly, accept our call to be good stewards, and actually commit to doing the right thing. Yesterday, (Wednesday, July 23rd) was one of those days.  

In a unanimous decision, the United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, told wealthy countries they must comply with their international commitments to curb pollution or risk having to pay compensation to nations hard hit by climate change. In an opinion hailed by small island states who are already being hit hard by the changes to our climate, the International Court of Justice said countries must address the “urgent and existential threat” of climate change.

“States must cooperate to achieve concrete emission reduction targets,” Judge Yuji Iwasawa said, adding that failure by countries to comply with the “stringent obligations” placed on them by climate treaties was a breach of international law. The court further said countries were also responsible for the actions of companies under their jurisdiction or control.  Failure to rein in fossil fuel production and subsidies could result in “full reparations to injured states in the form of restitution, compensation and satisfaction.”

From the perspective of one who takes seriously the call of God upon human beings to be good stewards of creation, this judgment is a positive step forward.  It is a recognition that we have behaved poorly and a declaration of repentance. 

There is a difference, however, in seeing the right thing and actually doing the right thing. God commands us to not only see the Way of Love, but also to walk the Way of Love. And as Jesus shows us with his life, walking the Way of Love is almost always hard, and usually requires significant sacrifice.

God has done the work of creating us good.  The International Court of Justice has done the work of seeing good.  Now it’s up to each and all of us to engage the hard part… living more simply and less selfishly, loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.

May our being, our seeing and our doing be aligned with God’s Way of Love.

~Art