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Why Christians Can’t Shrug Off Climate Change

Why Christians Can’t Shrug Off Climate Change

Last updated on: September 1, 2026 at 9:18 pm by Henry Karlson

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Why Christians Can’t Shrug Off Climate Change 2026-09-01T21:18:46-05:00 Henry Karlson

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Climate change is leaving our home, the world, on fire. Photo: Xyxyzyz — Street art in Sydney – Climate change – 2026 / Wikimedia Commons

The Common Good Requires Action On Climate Change

The world we live in, the Earth, is our common home. We should work to protect it from harm, ensuring it is not defiled by pollution or other forms of exploitation and abuse. Certainly, when talking about the common good and the activities which we should promote as a society, taking care of the world we live in, being good stewards of the Earth, ranks among the most important, if not the most important. “Human beings too are creatures of this world, enjoying a right to life and happiness, and endowed with unique dignity. So we cannot fail to consider the effects on people’s lives of environmental deterioration, current models of development and the throwaway culture.”[1] We can no longer ignore our responsibility to the world. We must act to promote everyone’s interests. We certainly shouldn’t let our personal desires get in the way of our responsibilities; they will never justify disregarding our obligations, especially to the Earth. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4 RSV).

We Are In This Together

I can’t understand why so many resist this. We are in this world together. What happens to it will affect us all. When we harm the Earth’s environment, everyone will be adversely impacted. This is why even selfish people should see the value in taking care of the environment. But, sadly, it appears that many selfish people, those with money and power, think they can create a space for themselves to flourish, and if they can do that, they have no reason to care about what happens to anyone else, let alone the Earth. They are foolish to believe this, as there is no way they will be able to protect themselves from all the effects of climate change, especially if they are young. Those who are old and soon to die might be able to avoid the worst effects themselves, but if they care for anyone other than themselves, those they care for, those who will continue on after they die, will not be so lucky.

The Disasters Are Already Here

Every week, I hear about more “natural disasters,” more “extreme weather,” more “record high temperatures” or “record low temperatures,” all of which climate scientists predicted would happen. As we see this happening from historic floods in Indiana, to a “record-breaking heat dome” in the South-West of the United States, to high temperatures in our oceans threatening to produce extreme storms and destroy all kinds of marine life, as well as to wildfires out of control, it is difficult for me to believe people still say we shouldn’t be concerned. Similarly, as the cost of such disasters continue to accumulate, I find it ridiculous to find so many say it is too costly for us to properly take care of the environment. The cost not acting is far greater!

We are just beginning to experience the effects of climate change; and, with the pain and suffering we see around us, it should be obvious how terrible it is going to be for all of us in the near future. Looking at the flooding in Indiana, we see it has taken out bridges, power, and homes, leaving countless people not only homeless, but without a way to adequately restore what they have lost. We will see more and more of this, more and more people adversely affected, losing everything, as extreme weather becomes the norm. I know, many will say, there will always be flooding, there will always be bad weather, and it is true, but not on the levels we see happening around us, extremes which will displace more and more people, leading to an ever increasing cost, a cost which could have been prevented if we took care of the world instead of abused it.

Willful Ignorance and Its Cost

Sadly, I do not find enough people taking environmental concerns seriously. Indeed, way too many are just shrugging their shoulders at it. I can understand some of it, from those who feel powerless to do anything. But others really don’t seem to care. And then there are those trying to tell us that the extreme weather patterns we see developing around us are perfectly natural, and there is nothing we have done to cause them, meaning, there is nothing we can do, despite all the evidence suggesting otherwise. It seems to me it is due to willful ignorance. They don’t want to know what is happening because they fear if they admit it, they will then have to do things they don’t want to do, that is, they will have to change the way they live. They know, also, that to fix the harm we have done will take money, that is, it will be costly, a cost which will affect everyone. This is why they can support the Trump Administration and the way it is undermining environmental regulations, because they say those regulations, especially those working to protect us from climate change, make things too expensive. The Trump Administration is hoping for this kind of response, so that it can significantly strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its funding, as seen in its newest budget proposal:

The President’s proposal would cut the Environmental Protection Agency by 52 percent, reducing its budget from $8.82 billion to $4.20 billion.

The National Park Service would face a 32 percent reduction, falling from $3.27 billion to $2.21 billion, while the U.S. Geological Survey would absorb a 37 percent cut from $1.42 billion to $893 million.

Under the proposal, the Forest Service would see its base budget reduced to $2.14 billion, with wildland fire management transferred to a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service within the Department of the Interior (DOI).[2]

The Trump Administration is removing environmental protections we need; his policies will double carbon emissions from what they are today by 2035. Sadly, the United States is not the only problem. China, certainly, is a concern, but it seems China is now trying to deal with climate change. Europe seems to be failing to live up to its responsibility. Despite the extreme heat, despite the extreme weather, despite the science, it seems Europe is being led by many who, like Trump, think they can ignore climate change and leave it for future generations, or rather, many who like Trump seem not to care if there are future generations or if the world is destroyed after they die.

Each of Us Has a Part to Play

I know why some don’t care. They have a nihilistic approach to the world. What I don’t understand is why they have been given such power. I especially don’t understand why so many Christians join in with them and don’t seem to care what happens to the Earth. Why do they ignore the fact that God told us to be good stewards of the Earth? Why do I find constant pushback from Catholics against pope after pope who have told us the need to deal with climate change? We all have our own part to play, as Pope Leo XIV indicated:

No one can single-handedly bear the weight of the challenges the world is facing, just as no one is so weak that they cannot play their part, for “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). All are given their own section of the wall: scientists and researchers, entrepreneurs and workers, educators and legislators, civil society, popular movements and faith communities. This is the logic of subsidiarity, which values the cooperation between generations, peoples, disciplines and cultures as the best way for fostering stability, prosperity and peace. We should not be intimidated by tensions or differences because they can become creative forces when guided by shared responsibility.[3]

Our Responsibility to One Another

We must be concerned about everyone’s welfare. We have a responsibility to look after and take care of our brothers and sisters, and not act like Cain who said he was not his brother’s keeper. We must make sure everyone has the basics they need to flourish. We fail to do that when we destroy the Earth. We fail the future, the future which is our responsibility, when we ignore the changes which we must make now to make sure future generations will be able to live and thrive on the Earth. If we want to promote life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we must make sure the conditions are there for them to be available to all. If we shrug it off, we show we don’t really care about life, which, sadly, seems to be the case for far too many Christians who claim to be pro-life. We are dealing with an existential crisis; why are people not doing what they can to deal with it, and instead debating about who should be able to play in sports? It just doesn’t make sense!

[1] Laudato si. Vatican translation. ¶43.

[2] Joanne Levine, “Trump Budget Proposal vs. Congress on Interior, Environment” in Legis1 (8-25-2026).

[3] Magnifica humanitas. Vatican translation. ¶13.

* This Is Another Post From My Personal (Informal) Reflections And Speculations Series

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N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.

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