I was asked to present for an adult Sunday School class at my church. Topic: Earth Day: State of the Planet

1. Apollo 15 - NASA
1
Earth Day 2014
State of the Planet
A Christian Perspective
Elton B. Sherwin
Executive Director,
The Carbon Zero Institute
These are one persons observations and have not been endorsed by any church body

2. In 2014
 More people well fed vs. any time in history
 Billions of people who do not worry next meal
 Don’t worry about famine in Europe and China
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 Miraculous medicine
 Far fewer deaths during
childbirth
 Safer water and air quality
in some places
 More than doubled life
expectancy Image: Paco Alcantara

3. However…
Challenges:
 World’s fisheries and coral reefs collapsing
 Challenges with fresh water, soil and food
 Climate is changing
 2 billion new relatives on the way
 2 billion living on less $5 a day have hard life
 Do worry about next meal
 Many don’t have access to clean water
 Many die from preventable diseases 7

4. How Should We Think
About This?
Bi-polar world
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5. Two Extreme Viewpoints
 End is near
 Humanity is going off a cliff
 Nothing we can do
 Ignore the problems
 Technology (or the market) will
save us
 Not my problem
 It’s not that bad
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6. 10
“…fill the earth and subdue it.
…work it and take care of it.”
Genesis 1:28b, 2:15b
Biblical Perspective

7. Mankind has Excelled
At
Filling the earth
Image Wired.com

8. 12
“…fill the earth
…take care of it.”
Genesis 1:28b, 2:15b
Future Focus

9. Looking Ahead
Four Focus Areas
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My opinions, have not been endorsed by any church body

10. Four Focus Areas
1. Climate
 Minimum +7º Fahrenheit in much of U.S.
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11. 15
Evangelical Call to Action on
Climate Change
Signed by over 260 senior evangelical leaders
“Human-Induced Climate Change is Real…”
“The Consequences of Climate Change Will Be
Significant, and Will Hit the Poor the Hardest…”
“The need to act now is urgent. Governments,
businesses, churches, and individuals all have a
role to play in addressing climate change—
starting now.”
Underline added

12. 16
Signatories are People We Know
Richard Mouw, Ph.D.,
Former President,
Fuller Theological Seminary
Richard Stearns,
President, World Vision
Philip Eaton, Ph.D.,
President emeritus, Seattle Pacific University
Duane Litfin, Ph.D.,
President emeritus, Wheaton College
William P. Robinson, Ph.D.,
President emeritus, Whitworth College

13. 17
Not Bastions of Liberal Thinking
 Huntington University
 Anderson University
 Rock Bridge Seminary
 Fresno Pacific University
 Crichton College
 Lipscomb University
 Eastern Nazarene College
 Abilene Christian University
 Houghton College
 Northwestern College
 Belhaven College
 North Park Theological Seminary
 Messiah College
They are collectively a thoughtful crew
 Tabor College
 Simpson University
 Warner Southern College
 MidAmerica Nazarene University
 Mississippi College
 Montreat College
 Eastern Mennonite University
 Southwest Baptist University
 Trinity Christian College
 William Jessup University
 Milligan College
 Missouri Baptist University
 John Brown University

14. Second Focus Area
1. Climate
 Minimum +7º Fahrenheit in much of U.S.
2. Deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity,
overfishing  food scarcity
 Historic causes of collapse of civil society
 Easter Island, Haiti, Ethiopia…
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15. Third Focus Area
1. Climate
 Minimum +7º Fahrenheit in much of U.S.
2. Deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity,
overfishing  food scarcity
 Historic causes of collapse of civil society
3. Surprise events: wars and plagues
 Nuclear arsenal, germ warfare, pandemics
 “Black Swan” events
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16. Fourth Focus Area
1. Climate
 Minimum +7º Fahrenheit in much of U.S.
2. Deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity,
overfishing  food scarcity
 Historic causes of collapse of civil society
3. Surprise events: wars and plagues
 Nuclear arsenal, germ warfare, pandemics
4. Population
 7 going to 9 or 10 Billion 20

17. High Population Density
Causes or accelerates
 Deforestation
 Water / food scarcity
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 Greenhouse gases
 Genocides and wars
Projected
Population
Growth to 2050 Image: Anthony Marr

18. Quick Pop Quiz
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19. 23
“…be fruitful
…increase in number;
fill the earth.”
Genesis 1:28 partial
When This Was Written
The World’s Population
Was?

20. 24
Closer to
2
than
7,000,000,000

21. Another
2,000,000,000
Coming…
25
Projected growth to 2050
Image: Anthony Marr

22. 26
being fruitful,
increasing in number,
and filling the earth.
to
Now is the Time
to Transition from
…taking care of it.

23. Three Recommendations
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24. Expand Projects that
Reduce Family Size
 Increase funding from: NGOs,
foundations, charities, donor governments,
and churches:
 Female run small business - 3x increase
 Girls in high school - 3x increase in funding
 Radio and TV focused on women’s health
and empowerment – 10x increase in funding
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#1

25. Make a 10% Commitment
All NGOs, foundations, charities, donor
governments, churches, mission trips:
 For all projects that improve life expectancy:
 Food, new crops, wells, water purification, drip
irrigation, vaccines, most drugs, most public health
projects, child wellness programs, etc.
 10% of funding go to family planning
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#2

26. Focus on Areas Where
Population Increase Could
Destroy Civil Society
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#3
 Egypt
 Pakistan
 India
 Islam
 Africa…
Projected growth to 2050
Image: Anthony Marr

27. Table Discussion
What projects does your church, NGO or
non-profit fund that increase population?
 Water projects, clinics, vaccines, food aid, etc.
Does your organization fund projects that
fully offset this growth:
 Female run small business
 Girls in high school
 Radio and TV focused on women’s health
 Family planning resources, etc.
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28. 32
“…fill the earth and subdue it.
…work it and take care of it.”
Genesis 1:28b, 2:15b
Now is the Time to