Weekly Action - 6 March 2023 - World Wildlife Day
World Wildlife Day
Last Friday 3 March marked World Wildlife Day, a time for the world to pause, celebrate and focus on protecting the amazing beauty of our natural wildlife. This year World Wildlife Day also marked the 50th anniversary of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), one of the key international agreements for protecting wildlife.
Massive decline in wildlife
And the world’s wildlife badly needs protecting. Last October the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London released the latest edition of their biannual Living Planet Report. The report was first released in 1970, and since then every year it has tracked the number of species in the world, and the numbers in each species, compared with that 1970 baseline. The 2022 Report revealed a shocking decline in biodiversity since 1970. In just over 50 years, global wildlife populations have dropped on average by 69% around the world. Some continents have experienced an even sharper decline, like Latin America and the Caribbean which has lost a devastating 94% of all its wildlife since 1970.
The reasons for this appalling decline are entirely human created. The destruction of natural habitats is the primary cause, through activities like deforestation, the conversion of previously wild lands for farming, the overuse of precious fresh water in agriculture, or overfishing of the oceans. Global climate change caused by human induced greenhouse gas emissions is also having a devastating impact on natural habitats. Other causes like pollution from human industrial activity, and the introduction of non-native species into different parts of the world as a result of human trade and travel (which then take over habitats and food sources from local populations) are also key drivers.
Why does this matter to us as Christians?
A major report from Arise, the 4 Shifts Report, explores what the Bible has to say about God’s creation, and our relationship with it (4 Shifts Report, pg 64 – 69). We see in this, that God’s creation is good, and it belongs to him. As the Psalms tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24: 1). Furthermore, we read in Genesis how humanity has been instructed by God to “take care of it” (Gen 2: 15). So if we truly love God we should also follow his instructions and care for his creation.
Furthermore, human society itself is deeply dependent upon a flourishing, healthy and diverse natural environment. The fresh water and food we need to survive, the clean air we need to breathe, the clothing we wear, the natural resources to build our homes and on which our economy is based – all are dependent on a healthy and diverse biosphere. Every scientific study on the topic shows how natural ecosystems are complex and deeply dependent. The shocking decline in biodiversity that we are causing, puts human society and survival itself at risk. And as ever, the poorest most vulnerable people around the world who do the least to cause such environmental decline, will suffer the worst from the impacts of it (4 Shifts Report, pg 39 – 48).
So what can be done?
To halt and reverse the shocking decline in biodiversity we must address its primary causes. That means protecting wild habitats and halting all further exploitation into wild lands; banning all polluting activity; and transforming our agricultural and economic activity so it becomes environmentally sustainable, not taking out more than it puts back in. It also means halting and reversing global climate change. Arise has brought all these changes together into two major policy shifts to Clean Energy and a Circular Economy needed to secure a safe environmental ceiling for the world, as part of our 4 Shifts campaign.
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 halt and reverse the shocking decline in species in God’s wonderful creation, and shift to clean energy and a circular economy?
Take Action
Speaking out in advocacy
Write to your MP in your own words asking them to take urgent action to:
1. Shift the UK and the world from overconsumption and waste to the circular economy, by urging the government to call for a global circular economy law. This law should ban polluting activity, further human expansion into wild lands, the production of natural resources that takes out more than it puts back in, and all waste, in order to trigger the shift to a circular economy. Urge them to bring in a UK national circular economy law to implement it here in Britain.
2. Shift the UK and the world from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy, by urging the government to bring forward and strengthen the UK’s plans to transition out of the fossil fuels that cause global climate change, and 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 contact details here
Pray
Pray that the shocking decline in biodiversity around the world will be halted and dramatically reversed. Pray for protection of species and natural habitats around the world. Pray for a global circular economy law to ban polluting activity, further human expansion into wild lands, the production of natural resources that takes out more than it puts back in, and all waste, in order to trigger the shift to a circular economy.
Give
Give to Christian organisations like A Rocha that are doing crucial work to protect and preserve the species and habitats of God’s amazing creation. Consider giving to secular organisations like the World Wildlife Fund that are doing similar things.
Practical Action
Volunteer and get involved with wildlife habitat protection and restoration in your area through Christian organisations like A Rocha or your local Wildlife Trust.
Ethical Consumption
Reduce the huge negative impact that ever expanding human agriculture has on God’s creation, by switching to a healthy diet that is based upon mainly fruit and vegetables (at least a third), and cereal and carbohydrates (at least a third), with a small amount of meat (less than a sixth) and dairy (less than a sixth), and eating white meat and fish rather than red meat wherever possible. Buy organic food, meat and other animal products that are free-range, as much as possible.
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.
Found this action online, or sent it by a friend? Sign up to receive weekly actions from Arise directly.