Christianity, Climate Change and Sustainable Living

by Nick Spencer, Robert White

Levels and patterns of consumption and production in the West have reached a level that cannot be maintained. The way we live, and in particular the way we produce and use energy, is no longer environmentally sustainable: it is already threatening the health and well-being of both planet and people. An estimated 150,000 people per year die as a direct result of anthropogenic climate change, and they are disproportionately in the low-income countries. Our activities and the policies that shape them need to change. This book, which is the first serious Christian engagement with the emerging issue of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), analyses the scientific, sociological, economic and theological thinking that makes a Christian response to these trends imperative, before moving on to a practical conclusion that explores what Christians, church fellowships and the Church can do and campaign about.

Genres: Christian, Environment

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
British theologian and chairman of Theos, a think tank examining politics from a religious perspective.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent ideas but dry presentation. Read Wendell Berry’s essays instead.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed yet practical introductory text to the issues of unsustainable environmental degradation, the Christian call to a more balanced relationship with our neighbors and our world, and the steps needed to live sustainably.

My major criticism of the book is its lack of stories. The text is clear, concise, easy to read, and full of useful graphs. It is holistic, showing the issues from many angles both Biblical and practical, individual and communal. It is great for giving someone already interested in the subject an overview of the whole picture, or to use as a reference text for the major positions or data to look at within each stage of the argument. But it's not the kind of book that's going to convince the doubtful to believe, or convince the inert to act. People don't tend to be moved by clear logical arguments, explanations of Biblical texts, or good data. Their subconscious is moved and changed by moving stories, and those stories are absent from this book.

[Neil Hollow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good on science of climate change and about well being. Don't agree with all their solutions and also no mention of peak oil.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 - This book presents some good information and presents the idea of 'Shalom' (living at peace) as a motivation for Christians to take take action steps towards making changes to our carbon output, especially as it relates to the vulnerable around the world. There are a few practical steps to take (see chapter 7 - individual response), but by and large the book is based more on theory than practice. It struggles somewhat with it's audience.