Changing Climate Patterns

by PRASHER, G. | Category: Focus | Jun 2007

Formidable evidence that world climatic conditions are changing significantly finds increasing acceptance among scientists, many national governments and industrial leaders.

One telling statistic confirms that 'of the twelve warmest years on record, eleven occurred between 1995 and 2006'. Extensive ice fields are breaking away from the north polar ice cap to be absorbed in the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. A similar breakaway from the world's southern ice cap in Antarctica adds further to the volume of ocean waters. Rivers originating in high mountain ranges are swollen by the increased amount of water from snow and ice melting at higher altitudes as global warming progresses.

These trends are attributed to the vastly increased amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere as a result of modern transportation, industrial activity, standards of housing and business demands. The excessive emission of so-called greenhouse gases affects the atmospheric balance, causing the retention of solar heat which would otherwise radiate away. The levels of emission are necessarily far higher in industrial countries and areas where housing standards involve the use of more machinery in domestic equipment. Rapid industrial development in China and India during the past decade has been an important factor. The Chinese are building new coal-fired power plants at the amazing rate of one every week, and the efficiency of these plants in limiting greenhouse gas emissions is considerably less than could be achieved through more advanced technology.

Low-lying coastal areas are of course most endangered by higher sea levels. Such countries as Holland have for centuries had to battle against the encroachment of the sea. The Dutch have developed a system described as 'Living with Water', allowing certain areas to flood in order to relieve pressure on defences covering more populated areas. Recognizing the effects of global warming they now plan to invest heavily in strengthening their coastal flood-defence system.

On the other side of the world Bangladesh too has always had to cope with flooding. It faces the Bay of Bengal where sea levels are now rising and drains much of the melted snow from the great range of the Himalayan Mountains. It's ironic that the rich countries of the world are mainly responsible for global warming, but poor countries such as Bangladesh may often have to bear the brunt of resulting climate changes. Britain is in fact subsidising a programme in Bangladesh that will raise roads, wells and houses above the level of the last major flood.

Against this background of modern climate change we're reminded of God's review of His perfectly balanced creation: �then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good� (Gen.1:31). On the sixth day of creation He had �created man in His own image;... male and female He created them ... Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over � every living thing that moves on the earth"� (Gen.1:27,28). David wrote in similar strain: �What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? ... You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet ...� (Ps.8:4,6). How sad that the wide range of authority delegated by God to mankind in relation to His creation has so often been misused! Through Jeremiah God protested to His people Israel:

�'Do you not fear Me?' says the LORD, 'Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, yet they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it. But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; � They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God" ... Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good from you� (Jer.5:22-25).

Yet despite human failure a faithful Creator remains abidingly true to His covenant promise through Noah:

�"While the earth remains,

Seedtime and harvest,

Cold and heat,

Winter and summer,

And day and night

Shall not cease"� (Gen.8:22).

PRASHER, G. | Jun 2007
Focus