Message to ECI: Be Careful

As a Christian, I’ve been following the Evangelical Climate Initiative (ECI) closely. Doug over at Stones Cry Out thinks most closely to me on this issue. You can see his postings and some comments by me here. Like it or not, the ads will be running soon.

Sure, Christians should be treating the earth well. God has called us to ‘fill the earth and subdue it’. I like the idea of nuke power, E-85 Fuel, and Bio-diesel. My company is huge into solar (I think we are #3 in the world and climbing fast). We need to be doing things that make sense, and continuing to develop new technologies. However, I’m not comfortable with a few things going on here.

Overall, I don’t think their statement is well worded. In point 1 it claims:

“those in the scientific community most seriously engaged with this issue that climate change is happening and is being caused mainly by human activities.”

1. The sentence is a little ‘run-on’.
2. Who is the ‘scientific community’? Atheists and others use the phrase ‘scientific community’ to lend credibility to their claims. Now this group of evangelicals is using the same technique.
3. Many in the ‘scientific community’ believe otherwise.

The ‘scientific community’ used to believe the earth had long cycles, global cooling was the problem, and that we were headed toward an ice age.

Now they believe the planet is warming, and have created a model to ‘prove’ it. Well, like most things, the global warming model is flawed. You can see some ponderings examples in one of my previous blogs here. Some other critiques can be seen here and here. (I’m sure there is other stuff, but I’m not going looking tonight). Of note:

Computer simulations, for example, indicate that over the past century the
"enhanced greenhouse effect" should have increased the temperature globally by
about one degree Celsius (or 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit). But, Baliunas notes, "the
actual temperatures have not cooperated with the computer models." Records
reveal a temperature rise of 0.5 degree Celsius over the past 100 years, peaking
before 1940. After that, the Earth's average surface temperature decreased until
the 1970s. Baliunas reminds us that was the time that doomsayers were warning
about an impending ice age! Since the 1970s the temperature has risen modestly
0.2 degree Celsius until now.
What is most significant about this brief
summary of global temperature patterns is that the warming of the Earth prior to
1940 must have been from natural causes, since more than 80 percent of the
manmade carbon dioxide has entered the air since the 1940s. No significant human
influence on climate existed in the early decades of the 20th century.

I’m a firm believer in data. Overall, I believe that the sun determines the temperature of the earth (Warmer sun, warmer earth, and vise-versa). Pretty radical, but you can read more here.

Also, I’m not comfortable with the spirit of the website. They seem very self-absorbed, relishing in the media coverage they are getting. On their home page, they link a video speaking of the ‘break’ from Bush. Are they delighted that they are scoring points against the president?

I liked Rick Warren’s book. However, today I’m disappointed he has cast his lot with these radicals. As I warn at SCO, he and the others are risking much. Sadly, the risk is unnecessary. I know that they could have put out a message saying ‘Take care of the planet’ without getting into bed with the extremists.

I’m not losing sleep over this. Overall, the cause of Christ will be in His will, not dependent on Warren or any of the ECI guys. Ultimately, I believe God will take care of the planet also, but that’s just me.