The whole environment is God’s creation, and man was entrusted with its stewardship. Sadly neglected and abused in man’s quest for more power and wealth, much has suffered and as a consequence, global warming has now become a real concern. No one of us can alter the big picture, but each of us can consider carefully how we use the resources God has provided. According to the Bible, bigger changes to planet Earth are certain in the future, but that is not a reason for Christians to ignore the present implications of climate change and adopt a careless and extravagant lifestyle. We can show others that we care, including willing acceptance of government regulations to protect the environment. In this helpful guide, Bert Cargill carefully outlines evidences of global warming and climate change, explaining some of the science behind it, and indicates ways in which we can help during our time on earth before our Lord Jesus comes again. Dr Bert Cargill retired from chemistry teaching and research at Abertay University, Dundee. A lifelong commitment to Christian service has underpinned his Biblical point of view on nature and the environment, as in his other books Creation’s Story (2008) and Considering Creation (2020). He also wrote the Tell me More about ... series to bring basic Christian truths especially to readers whose first language is not English. Married to Isobel, they have a grownup family including great-grandchildren. CHAPTER 1 THE WEATHER, THE CLIMATE AND THE CHANGES What is the weather like? I’m writing this during a wet, grey November day on the Scottish east coast with high waves from the North Sea driven by an easterly gale crashing over the harbour wall nearby. Rain is forecast for the rest of the day, and I’m thankful to be warm and dry inside. For travellers on land, on the sea and in the air it is much less pleasant, and for some it is downright dangerous. For workers outside, well designed clothing enables them to continue their tasks with some degree of warmth and protection. For others with cold and damp housing, or no shelter at all, their misery is compounded, and for them the outlook is bleak. Many of us have cause to “count our blessings” while many others are having to count their expenses and consider what to do next. And I’m thinking only about ourselves in this country just now, and I’m writing from a rather privileged perspective. In other countries severe weather events have been catastrophic and even fatal. There the perspective will be very different. We’ve had this kind of weather many times before, and worse, and we’ll likely get it again. In the UK we get a fair balance of what we call good weather and bad weather. We pay attention to weather forecasts and hope they are right when we make our plans, but we are accustomed to it changing. It’s even a talking point – “as changeable as the weather” you’ve may have heard people say! But our local weather pattern doesn’t seem to have changed dramatically for as long as we can remember, or has it? Maybe depends on your selective memories as time passes! But elsewhere there have been big changes in weather patterns, and some people in other countries are suffering badly because of it. What is the climate like? Weather is a local and temporary thing, and it has always changed to and fro between certain limits of temperature, wind speed, rainfall and so on. But climate is something different - it is the long term averaged meteorological characteristic of a large area. Over the planet it has traditionally been classified broadly as arctic, temperate, and tropical, each with its own characteristics, and with some subsets such as maritime and mountainous. But is the world’s climate really changing as we are being told repeatedly nowadays? Is there global warming? What is the evidence? In the depth of winter during an exceptionally cold spell, we may be tempted to think that global warming isn’t real, or even think that it could be an advantage to us! Over the whole of planet Earth, averaged meteorological measurements over short and long periods are showing definite changes and trends. The climate does appear to be changing, not in a random fashion to and fro, but steadily in one direction. Measurements are showing that the world is getting warmer year on year. 2022 looks like being the warmest year on record so far. The big concern is what this will mean for everyone everywhere and for future generations if the trend continues as it threatens to do. The big question is what can be done about it? Can this problem be solved? Can the trend be slowed down or even reversed? What is the Christian viewpoint? What should a Christian’s attitude be to this concern over climate change, to what we are told is happening now, and also what is expected in the near and distant future? It is easy for us to be a bit selfish and think locally and short term, and believe that it doesn’t affect us much here and now. The effects may indeed be slight and of