Weekly Action - 13 February 2023 - New Zealand Storms
New Zealand Storms and Flooding
The people of New Zealand’s North Island are experiencing gale force winds and heavy rains as former Cyclone Gabrielle makes landfall. Some 22,000 people are without power. Schools are closed, emergency shelters have been set up, and trains and flights cancelled. People have been sandbagging their homes and queuing to stock up at supermarkets. The most vulnerable have been told to evacuate. In Northland and Auckland a state of emergency has been declared. The BBC reports that the Far North mayor Moko Tepani feared the roof of his house would blow off because the winds were so extreme.[1] The storm comes on top of unprecedented record-breaking rainfall in the North Island in January, when more than a month of rain fell in just one 24 hour period. The rains in January caused widespread flooding, downed trees, damaged thousands of homes, caused landslides and killed 4 people. Rail lines were disrupted, schools closed and main roads flooded leaving people stranded and forced to abandon their cars. Responding to the floods, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said "Climate change is real, it's with us. We are going to have to deal with more of these extreme weather events in the near future; we need to be prepared for that and we need to do everything we can to combat the challenges of climate change."
Climate Change is the Cause
He is right, both the latest storm and the extreme rainfall and floods are undeniably a result of global climate change. Arise’s 4 Shifts Report summarises how scientists from around the world have for decades predicted that climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels will result in more extreme storms and rainfall. In recent years the impacts of climate change have included heat waves, droughts, floods, cyclones, wildfires, landslides, massive polar melting, the melting of the world’s glaciers, sea-level rise, the devastation of coral systems, mass food and fresh water shortages, ill health, huge negative economic impacts, conflicts over scarce resources, the creation of huge numbers of climate refugees, and much more (Arise Manifesto, pg 217 – 220, 225 – 228). In the past 6 months alone, we have seen a massive and tragic food crisis in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, devastating floods in Pakistan, and record temperatures in the UK and Europe, all as a result of global climate change. Even more than New Zealand, it is developing countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Pakistan, whose greenhouse gas emissions are a fraction of those of more developed nations, that have done the least to cause climate change, but are now being hit first and hardest by a changing climate.
As Christians what should we do about it?
As Christians we know we are called both to care for God’s amazing creation, and to love our neighbours, especially the most vulnerable. We read in Genesis how humanity was instructed both to work God’s creation and to “take care of it” (Gen 2: 15). Later the book of Proverbs tells us “The righteous care about justice for the poor” (Prov 29: 7). We therefore need to meet immediate urgent needs for those whose lives have already been devastated by climate change. And we also need to tackle the long-term underlying causes, and urgently get out of fossil fuels which are driving global climate change, and instead shift to 100% clean renewable energy, which does not lead to climate change, and is cheaper as well.
Arise’s 4 Shifts Campaign calls for a rewiring of our global economy to be green and fair, so it still creates the jobs and wealth that lift people out of poverty, but does so without relying on fossil fuels and overconsumption which is wrecking our planet. As part of that campaign we need to transition as rapidly as possible to 100% clean renewable energy, whilst also supporting countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Pakistan who are already feeling the impacts of climate change right now.
Will you take action as part of Arise’s 4 Shifts campaign this week, to meet the immediate needs of communities being impacted by climate change and to shift to a clean energy economy?
Take Action
Speak out in advocacy
Get in touch with your MP, and ask for a meeting with them to discuss the crucial issue of climate change and the importance of 4 Shifts. (This is totally appropriate, they are used to meeting their constituents on all topics, that is their job!) You can find your MP, and their office contact details here. Ask your MP to:
1. Urge the government to bring forward and strengthen the UK’s plans to transition out of fossil fuels, so that we shift to zero emissions and 100% clean renewable energy, and ban the use of fossil fuels by 2030. Implement this in every sector (energy, transport, buildings, industry etc.)
2. Meet immediate needs of communities in developing countries who are being impacted by climate change, by urging the government to significantly increasing the amount the UK provides in climate finance to the world’s poorest nations.
Pray
Pray for the people of New Zealand who are currently being hit by the impacts by the climate change. Pray for protection and rebuilding. Pray for action from the UK and other governments to rapidly shift their economies out of fossil fuels and into 100% clean renewable energy.
Give
Give to Christian organisations like Christian Aid, Cafod, Tearfund or World Vision who are supporting the poorest communities impacted by climate change around the world.
Practical Action
Reduce your own use of electricity and gas as much as possible through actions such as switching off lights and unplugging devices when not in use, wearing warmer clothing rather than putting the heating on, and ensuring your home is properly insulated.
Ethical Consumption
Research where your pensions and savings are invested, if you have them. Contact your bank about switching them out of funds that invest in fossil fuels that are causing climate change and into funds that support clean renewable energy.
Encourage us and others by letting us know what actions you have taken – message us at info@ariseuk.org, or via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Find out more
It’s great to take this action as individual Christians, but even better to come together with others to pray, discuss, worship, learn, have fun and take action together. Contact Arise if you are interested in joining or starting a local Arise group in your church or area. If you are already in an Arise group, take this action to your wider church, and get them all to do it too.
Find out more about why the world needs 4 Shifts to transition to a green and fair global economy in Arise’s 4 Shifts Report, and how this forms part of God’s bigger vision for our world in the Arise Manifesto.
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[1] New Zealand storm Gabrielle: Tense wait as ex-cyclone moves over North Islands, BBC, (12 Feb 2023), https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64617013