Weekly Action - 17 July 2023 - Heatwave
Heatwave
Europe, the US and China are locked in the grip of a shocking heatwave this week, in the latest evidence of the impact of global climate change. Spain and Sardinia have seen temperatures hit 43 degrees, whilst in Xinjiang, China, they reached an incredible 52.2 degrees, and in Death Valley, California, they are at 53.9 degrees. More than a third of the population of the US are currently living under extreme heat alerts. Wildfires triggered by the heat have caused widespread damage in both Spain and Greece, where 1,200 children were evacuated from holiday camps as a result. Heat related deaths are expected to be widespread. More than 61,000 died in heatwaves last year.[1] In just one community in Houston, Texas, doctors told The Independent how they are using extreme measures to treat the growing number of people who have collapsed from potentially lethal heatstroke, such as “ice baths, ice-filled packs, fans, circulating cold liquids into the body, and more – to effectively bring down body temperatures as quickly as possible and save lives”.[2] The ten hottest years ever recorded have all occurred since 2010, and June 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded, with July set to match or exceed it. Climate change is resulting in such extreme temperatures, and even higher, becoming normal. Climate change is also currently causing widespread and devastating floods in India and South Korea.
In recent years the impacts of climate change have included heatwaves, 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. Even before the latest heatwave, the past 8 months have seen a massive and tragic food crisis in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, record temperatures in the UK and Europe, and devastating floods in Pakistan, New Zealand, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, all as a result of global climate change. It is developing countries in particular, like DR Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan and India, whose greenhouse gas emissions are a fraction of those of more developed nations, that have done the least to cause climate change, but are being hit the hardest by it.
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.
Will you take action as part of Arise’s 4 Shifts campaign this week to urgently shift to a clean energy economy?
Take Action
Speak out in advocacy
Message your MP via social media. Ask them to 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.)
Find your MP and their social media contact details here
Pray
Pray for the people around the world who are currently being hit by the heatwave and other impacts of climate change. Pray for protection, that their basic needs will be met, and for adapting their societies to adjust to a changing climate. 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 energy use by using cars less, and walking, cycling or using public transport more. If you fly, consider reducing or ending entirely the number of flights you take, and holidaying at home, not abroad.
Ethical Consumption
Speed the shift to a 100% clean energy economy by switching you electricity provider to a renewable energy company like Ecotricity or Good 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] Heatwaves are new normal as 50C hits US and China – UN, BBC, (Tues 18 Jul 2023), https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66229057
[2] From body bags of ice to pavement burn: US grapples with new extreme heat reality, The Independent, (20 Jul 2023), https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/heatwave-arizona-texas-deaths-burns-b2378285.html