REFLECT
[By the Rev. Daimon Mkandawire, Mission Secretary for Ecology and Economy, Council for World Mission, with information from Science Direct journal]
The season of Lent is traditionally a period of introspection, repentance, and deep spiritual reflection for Christians. It is a journey that takes believers from the recognition of humanity’s inherent frailty on Ash Wednesday to the poignant reminder of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice on Good Friday, culminating in the joy of Easter Sunday. This Lenten pilgrimage offers a unique vantage point from which to consider the pressing issue of climate injustice.
Climate injustice, where the most vulnerable suffer for the excesses of the powerful, demands both acknowledgment and action. It mirrors the same dynamics of power and oppression that led to the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus’s ministry was centered around the principles of love, justice, and the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom is not just a celestial promise but a call to establish justice, peace, and love here on Earth. Climate justice is deeply aligned with this call. It seeks to rectify the imbalances of power, restore the dignity of the marginalized, and heal the wounds inflicted on Earth.
In some parts of the world, climate mitigation is restoring the balance of climate injustice. One of these places is in the Indian state of Gujarat, where high temperatures from climate change are causing health problems and labor losses. Historically, refrigerant-based air conditioners have offered a cooling solution, but they are not always available to the most economically vulnerable, and their energy use and heat output exacerbate the problems of climate change. The state government has come with a solution that is more economically accessible and uses 35 to 50% less energy than individual air conditioners: District Cooling (DC), whereby centrally chilled water is distributed to customers through underground pipes. DC eliminates much of the up-front cost for users and does not put a heavy demand on energy utilities. A feasibility study on the use of DC throughout India identified the state of Bihar as another high-priority region.
Lent’s theological underpinnings provide a profound framework for understanding and engaging with the issue of climate justice. It calls Christians not just to personal conversion but to a collective metamorphosis—a transformation that seeks to heal, restore, and reconcile both humanity and the Earth with the Creator. Embracing climate justice during Lent is not just an ecological imperative; it is a deeply spiritual one, urging us to see God in all things and to act as stewards of God’s wondrous creation.
ACT
Seek ways to embrace climate justice this Lent. Whom do you see around you who is affected by the climate crisis and lacks resilience to adapt? Are there ways you can work with them to improve their situation?
PRAY
Eternal Creator, as we journey through this season of Lent, draw our hearts and minds toward the cries of our wounded planet. Help us recognize our role in this world, not as dominators, but as part of Your magnificent creation in which we sustain each other through mutuality and respect. Grant us the grace to repent for the ways we have neglected and exploited the Earth and inspire in us a commitment to justice and renewal. Amen.