A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions

by Katharine Hayhoe, Andrew Farley

Global it's one of the hottest scientific and political issues of today. And yet we've all found ourselves asking . . .

- It's freezing outside--where's global warming now?
- Climate is always changing--how do we know this isn't just a cycle?
- Why should Christians care about global warming when we know the world won't end that way?

For all the talk about climate change, there's still a great deal of debate about what it all means, especially among Christians. A CLIMATE FOR CHANGE offers straightforward answers to these questions, without the spin. This book untangles the complex science and tackles many long-held misconceptions about global warming. Authored by a climate scientist and a pastor, A CLIMATE FOR CHANGE boldly explores the role our Christian faith can play in guiding our opinions on this important global issue.

Genres: Science, Environment, Nonfiction, Climate Change, Christianity, Theology, Nature

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Katharine Hayhoe is a climate scientist who studies what climate change means for us here and now, in the places where we live and ways that matter to us, and how our choices will determine our future.

She is the chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a distinguished professor at Texas Tech University, and serves as climate ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance. Katharine hosts and produces the PBS Digital Series, Global Weirding, and has received a number of recognitions, from making the TIME 100 list to being named United Nations Champion of the Earth in Science and Innovation.

As a world-class climate scientist and a Christian, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe may defy some stereotypes about the politics of religion and science. But defying stereotypes invites inquiry, which can lead to communication, even learning. It creates opportunity for thinking deeply about, and aligning, what we value and what we do. Climate change is a huge issue, and it’s one where our engagement is critical. That’s why her work is so fascinating: in part because it’s about climate change--but even more, because it's about us.

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Christian, I have been frustrated to see many people of the same faith who seem to reflexively dismiss that global warming is happening. I wanted to know more so that I could hopefully help people to reconsider this dismissal.

Hayhoe and Farley’s book definitely satisfied that desire. The authors are always firm about the reality of global warming, but never condescending. Doubts about climate change and the human contribution to this change are evenly and clearly addressed. They seem to have anticipated a lot of the arguments and quibbles people might have with global warming.

I also really appreciated that the authors did not take shortcuts in their arguments. When I came to the section where they explain why Christians should care about global warming, they surprised me. I’ve seen Bible verses quoted about why we should be stewards of the Earth and that’s what I expected again. But Hayhoe and Farley acknowledge that there is no explicit mandate given in the Bible for Christians to take care of the earth. Rather, they argue that we should work to combat global warming because it is the wise and compassionate thing to do. This is an example of the clear-eyed approach that is taken throughout the book.

The book is well-organized and includes many helpful graphs and images to support the text. (It’s actually a very good-looking book overall.) I know I will be referring to it in the future and already have plans of either lending my copy or giving a copy to others. It’s just such a pleasure to encounter a book that so gracefully transcends the polarizing nature of debate that too often surrounds global warming and Christianity.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book because it talks about climate change from a Christian perspective. Being a Christian myself, I was very surprised to find that many Christians think climate change/global warming is not true and/or is made up by liberals. This book is written by a couple where the wife is a scientist and the husband is a pastor, so there is a lot of data, but it's presented in an easy to read way. I thought it covered everything very well and was written with a non-scientist reader in mind. The overall theme of the book, which I completely agree with, is that as Christians we should be trying to take care of the Earth God created - whether you believe the statistics or not.

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah! I won another book on Goodreads....

I'm not sure what to think of this book. I had checked to win this book because I thought it was going to tell me that global warming was all made up. So when I started it reading it and it was pro-global warming I didn't know what to think.

I read it objectively and came away feeling a couple of things. 1). I don't know if I believe all their research. They were throwing numbers around every where. Who is to say if it is true or not. 2). I struggled with some of their interpretation of scripture and how it applies. 3). Okay, I thought, I'll try to make a better effort of doing green things. I don't ever know that I'll "go green," but I'll try to listen now when I hear people say things that can help out our world. I won't kill myself to do it and I won't bankrupt myself either, but if I can make a change here or there I will.

So I suppose in some ways this was a positive read for me and in others I just rolled my eyes through it. I'll be lending this book out to whoever wants to read it.

[Scottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book and just finished this book and really enjoyed it. It gave me a lot to think about concerning our changing climate. I learned quite a lot and the information was presented in very clear and easy to understand ways. What is really impressive is the list of sources used for this book. There are over 30 pages of sources and also a nice list of other books on this subject to read. I liked all of the scientific information, but I also really liked the thoughtful way that the Christian viewpoint is presented. There are some good suggestions in how we can help with this worldwide problem and it gives you something to think about involving our past and future on this planet that God gave us.

[Brent Ranalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not an Evangelical Christian myself, so parts of it didn't speak to me, but I'm very glad a book like this exists for such an audience. The authors do an excellent job summarizing the science for a non-scientific audience (with full-color charts and graphs!) and addressing common misconceptions without being condescending.

[Khandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katharine Hayhoe is here to challenge the idea that science and faith are incompatible.

An atmospheric science professor and the director of the Climate Science Center of Texas Tech University, Hayhoe studies the impact of climate change at a local level, helping governments and organizations use climate data to adapt to the future. The Canadian scientist also happens to be an evangelical Christian—the US religious group that is least likely to believe climate change is the result of human activity.

“It’s a little like coming out of the closet admitting that you are a Christian and a scientist,” Hayhoe said in an interview with PBS.

“When it comes to politically polarized issues like climate change, more facts aren’t going to change people’s minds.”
Hayhoe’s ability to bridge faith and science has made her one of the country’s most effective communicators when it comes to climate change. She gives scripture-based lectures to church groups and religious organizations that focus on the positive benefits of collective action—water for farmers, food for the poor, moral values for churchgoers—instead of bleak facts and dystopian pictures of the end of times. And she never talks down to her audience. “If you begin a conversation with, ‘You’re an idiot,’ that’s the end of the conversation, too,” she told the New York Times last year.

Despite criticism from right-wing media, threats from online trolls, and being viewed suspiciously by the evangelical community, Hayhoe hasn’t abandoned her crusade to convince the Christian community that climate change is real. She co-wrote a book, A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions, with her husband (an evangelical pastor and one of the first people she converted), and produces a bi-weekly web series with PBS. She has also co-authored reports for the US Global Change Research Program and the National Academy of Sciences.

“Far from holding us back, or making us doubt, or saying there’s nothing we can do, our values demand we be on the forefront of this issue. That’s what we as Christians are called to do,” she said in 2015.

In an interview with Quartz, Hayhoe talks about why it takes more than facts to change people’s minds, how bias can be a good thing, and the responsibility we all have in shaping the values of the next generation.

1. What’s your big idea that other people aren’t thinking about or wouldn’t agree with? Why is it so important?
When it comes to acting on politically polarized issues like climate change, more facts aren’t going to change people’s minds.

It’s true that people often use science-y sounding objections to dismiss the reality that the climate is changing and humans are responsible. “The data are wrong,” they argue, or “We don’t know enough yet, we need to study it longer.” Or they use religious-y sounding objections like, “God would never let this happen,” or “The world will end anyways, so why care?”

If we don’t know better, we fall for these smokescreens. But that’s what they are: convincing smokescreens to hide the real reasons people have a problem with issues today, reasons that have a lot more to do with identity and ideology than they do with data and facts.

On climate change, most people aren’t fundamentally opposed to the underlying science. After all, it’s the same science that makes our stoves and fridges and airplanes work. We just don’t want to commit to a course of action we’re told will be painful or punitive, and we just don’t think that it will affect us in ways that matter to us, in the places where we live.

So if I could convince everyone of just one thing, it would be the necessity of connecting this daunting global problem to how it impacts us locally, in the places where we live, and what we can do—and are already doing—to fix it.

2. What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute to your success?
The first is curiosity. Understanding the big picture on climate change means knowing a little bit about so many different things—from the basic physics of the atmosphere to how sensitive an endangered frog species might be to its environment to the planning strategies water managers use to ensure future supply. I am perpetually curious, and love nothing better than learning about something new.

The second is persistence. It’s not easy being a climate scientist these days, where every time you turn around, someone’s accusing you of making it all up for the money. It’s even harder to be a climate scientist in the most conservative corner of Texas, where your very existence is a personal offense to some people. When you are criticized and attacked on a daily basis for doing what you do, it takes a lot of persistence to say to yourself, every single day, “I’m going to keep going.”

3. If you could make one change to help women at work, what would it be?
In science, as in many sectors of our society, all of the primary metrics used to hire, evaluate, and promote scientists have been shown to be biased against women. These statistics don’t even begin touch on discrepancies in salary, opportunity, and many other expectations that only further widen the gap.

“Long-term, those of us who are parents or educators have the crucial responsibility of shaping the values of the next generation.”
I find this profoundly unfair and disheartening. So what can be done about it?

Long-term, those of us who are parents or educators have the crucial responsibility of shaping the values of the next generation. For now, though, compensating for known biases is essential. If I could make one change, it would be for the leadership of every company, organization, or institution to ask the women in their organization how they would like to see their particular playing field leveled.

In science, for example, we don’t only need STEM programs geared at attracting girls and women to the field. In my own field of earth science, 36% of assistant professors are women, but by the time we get to full professors, only 13% of us are women. We also need policy changes aimed at retaining women and helping them succeed.

I would love to see every institution take a long hard look at what might cause them to lose women, and what they can do to fix it. It’s no mystery: all they have to do is ask the women at their institution! I’ve talked to many at mine, and each one has something concrete to offer, whether it’s undergraduates who consistently down-weight female instructors on course evaluations, department chairs who blatantly overwork and underpay their women faculty, a lack of accessible childcare resources on or near campus, or even more critical issues such as harassment. Yet when I’ve raised issues like this with senior male colleagues, they were astonished that they even existed. Why were they so surprised? Because they never asked.

4. At the start of your career, what do you wish you had known? What, if anything, do you wish you had not believed?
As a young scientist, I was implicitly encouraged to think of myself as a brain in a jar, to strive to become the perfect objective, rational, unbiased observer of the physical universe and the world around us. Yet not only is that an impossible standard, but the more we suppress our biases and our opinions, the higher the risk that they will pop out in unexpected and possibly inappropriate ways.

I wish I’d known that we should be doing the exact opposite: striving to unite our heads and our hearts so we can bring our whole selves to the work that we do. As Jane Goodall said a few years ago, after a long career in science, “Only when our clever brain and our human heart work together in harmony can we achieve our true potential.”

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too stupid to finish.
I thought this book would provide faith-based suggestions for addressing climate change in our daily lives.
Rather, it is trying to convince people of faith that climate change is real.
As I am not a moron, I found this a waste of (probably not even recycled) paper.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is decent as a basic summary of climate change that would be good for Christians who are being introduced to the topic for the first time. It lays out the issue in a way that is very easy to understand.

I would have liked to see more on why Christians, specifically should care about climate change. The actions at the end were (admittedly) small and it would have been nice to hear specifics about how some have been led by their faith to care for creation.

[Mike Merchant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authors Hayhoe and Farley are writing primarily to a Christian, non-science audience in this book. In this they do a good job of systematically articulating and addressing skeptical points of view on the topic of climate change among the religious community. Christians will find their approach friendly yet frank.

Climate change, according to the authors, is real. They support their position with numerous quotes from respected Christian voices, as well as with clearly explained scientific data. "Today there is no legitimate national or international scientific organization that does not accept the fundamental role of humans as drivers of recent climate change." A short section on this last point illustrates both the strength of this book and its greatest flaw. The authors cite a 2004 study "conducted by a science historian" who concluded that there was no evidence in peer-reviewed journals of the myth that there is major disagreement among scientists about the reality and causes of climate change. Good to hear. Unfortunately, though the authors provide a list of sources for the various chapters in the book, they fail to cite or footnote the sources for important assertions like this one. (to see the original source, go to Oreskes 2004.

The book's strength is its clear justification explaining why Christians should take climate change seriously. Its weakness is its lack of an index or footnotes, which would aid a serious reader in further research.

A few things I learned from this book:
* There is no question that earth temperature is rising, despite global dimming (cooling effects of dust, soot and aerosols in the atmosphere) and a solar cycle that would be expected to cool the earth.
* Natural sources produce >200B tons CO2 annually, human emissions >8B tons
* Methane retains heat (a bad thing) 25X as much as CO2. In the past thousand+ years, methane has ranged from 300-700 ppb. Today it is at 1800 ppb. CO2 ranged from 200-300 ppm and today is 390 ppm (both not good).
* There are 25 different global climate computer models used to predict future climate change. These complex models allow us to predict climate with and without human influence. These models consistently show that human-influence is the cause of today's temperature increases.
* One of the indicators of climate change is an increase in extreme weather. Globally the number of major (Cat 4 and 5) hurricanes has increased 75% since 1970.
* The burden of climate change will fall disproportionately on the poor whose options to adapt are severely limited. If we are concerned about the burden of refugees today, consider that we are just seeing the beginning of a growing number of "environmental refugees", people being forced from their homes by effects of climate change. In a few years the numbers of these refugees are predicted to reach 50M and more.

Although there is little that the Christian New Testament has to say about planet care, the Old Testament's book of Genesis makes clear that God placed humans on earth to tend and care for it. And like we are to tend and care for our bodies, though temporary, we must also care for the earth. Doctrines that view the earth as a temporary home, and therefore expendable, do not do justice to the whole of scriptural teaching on creation care. Also, the Bible (both OT and NT) makes clear that we are to care for the poor and the immigrant. Clearly, climate change is making this cause more difficult.

IMO, this is a book that should be read by anyone who is curious about whether climate change is real. Skeptics will likely not be interested, as the authors acknowledge, but the key to making a dent in global climate change is many people doing small things. This book is hopeful on the possibility of change. Convincing the Church of that possibility could go a long way to making the world a more stable place.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on global warming from a Christian perspective. All the charts and numbers in the first section wore me down, but the Biblical foundation of love for others as the reason for doing our part to help in the crisis was very helpful. I really liked the practical tips and advice at the end concerning how to help if we desire to.

[Dexter Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting perspective for a Christian interested in climate change

[Abby Tamkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm grateful for Hayhoe and her work and for addressing it so specifically to her audience. I've seen Hayhoe speak and she is a great communicator, but I'm just not a big fan of the last section in this book.
It was obvious that Hayhoe and Farley have a very specific audience in mind for this book: American Christians who are suspicious of climate change, many of whom are also young-earth creationists. To that end, the case they make for the reality of climate change is limited to data from the past 4k years or so. Most of the data I've seen of temperatures and CO2 concentrations have extended back millenia, so it was interesting to see the case made for climate change using only recent data.
The book is divided into five sections:
-What's going on?
-Causes
-Doubts
-Effects
-Choices

The first four sections are fine. Pretty clear explanations about climate change data, effects we are already seeing, and projections of future changes
However, I felt that the faith-based aspect of the book was a little lackluster. The topic came up in a few places throughout the first four chapters, but most of the discussion was in the fifth section, "Choices."
I think the strongest argument they make (keeping in mind their target audience), is this (Chap 19):
"As Christians, we can all agree that we are called to care for the poor and have sympathy and compassion on those who are suffering. Models of climate change effects tell us that the people who will suffer the greatest impacts from climate change are also those who are least able to adapt to those impacts: people in developing countries". So this is a significant motivation to leverage within the section of Christianity to whom the book is written.
The areas where I think the book is weaker is when they start talking about caring for parts of creation other than humans.
In Chapter 20, they really downplay the role of Christians in caring for Creation. They make the case that since Jesus did not give the New Testament church the charge of caring for creation, that we are not called to care for the earth. While I think that the key point of the NT was the Incarnation of Christ and the reconciliation we have with Christ because of that, the NT does not have a monopoly on Biblical truth, and the OT has a lot to say about the land and other creatures and how we all interact with our Lord (Genesis 1, anybody?). In addition, a focus on Christ and his church does not preclude any attention to the universe God created.
Another point they make is concerning the Romans 8 passage about creation groaning and eagerly awaiting being set free from that groaning. They posit that since God is the one doing the redeeming, we have no role to play in that process. Following in that vein, 2 Peter 3 and Rev 21 are discussed, with the conclusion being that the earth will be destroyed by fire and replaced with a new earth at the end. While it is clear that something massive is going to happen to the earth as we know it, this interpretation of these two passages about the old and new earth (and one mentioning fire) is by no means settled among even conservative theologians and pastors. I recommend a sermon by John Piper (audio and transcript here). I'll just quote this passage:

Paul’s words in Romans 8:21 are a clear witness to the continuity between the old earth and the new earth: “The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption.” So he understands “new” to mean “renewed,” not replaced. It’s not like, “I got a new car.” When something is set free, it doesn’t go out of existence or get abandoned. It may change, but it is still there, and free."

So I don't like the author's interpretations of the above verses - I summarize it as this: "I'm not supposed to be a part of redeeming creation, that's God's job, and it's going to get burnt up anyway, so let's not get emotionally or otherwise invested in it.
On a parallel topic: Christians believe we will eventually be fully united with Christ, and fully rid of our fallen natures. Does this mean that, in view of that eventuality, we just lounge around and do whatever we want, having secured our "fire insurance?" In the words of Paul: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means"!
In the same way, just because God is the one who ultimately redeems creation and us, we are still (wonderfully) partners in that redemption. Doing the right thing still matters, even if you know how it all turns out.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are looking for an inoffensive, straightforward introduction to climate change for Christians, then this is an excellent choice. It is clear, concise, easy to read and understand, and quite useful to get a good overview of climate change and global warming.

However, it is very science-heavy (which gets a bit repetitive), utilizes incorrect Biblical exegesis, perpetuates out-of-date stereotypes of 'being green,' and, I think, falls short of forming a substantive argument. I was disappointed to see Hayhoe and Farley repeatedly let readers off the hook about Christian living (it's totally okay to eat meat from wherever you want, even though the beef industry is a major contributor to global warming in America?) and not challenge Christians to develop a deeper understanding of the lived realities of God's love or our role as set-apart in American society.

Hayhoe and Farley argue in the concluding chapters that there is no moral obligation for Christians to care for the earth (which, at the very least, is a confusingly and completely unsupportable claim), that the earth will ultimately be replaced (not redeemed), but that even so we should still take care of the earth because it is a good idea to help fix things for our global neighbors. The most that they argue is that Christians are free to take steps against global warming in order to help care for people.

It's very weird to read a book that recommends spending time on something that is good, but ultimately unnecessary, for Christians to be involved in. What's the point of that? In the end, is this book merely a call to mediocrity?

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I learned an important lesson from this book, if you are going to enter a giveaway, thoroughly read the book summary.

I was thinking this was a book about global warming and what we could do to help our planet. I guess I missed the "faith based decisions" part.

I liked that the book tried to take on the idea of global warming non-biased manner, but it also felt pretty heavy handed with the religion.

It was Ok. Anyone who isn't sure about global warming, and who is also very religious, will appreciate this book.

If you are like me, and already believe in global warming (as well as evolution) I would suggest skipping this one, because the first few chapters will just annoy you as they did this reader.

[Charles Bame · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY finished it today. It took so long because the first half was so depressing that I couldn't go on for a while. The last third of the book is a bit hopeful and suggests what we can do to help the situation. I think everyone should read it but, of course, the people that really need to will not. The book urges "fundamentalist" Christians who don't believe in global warming to wake up.

[Russ Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see that I originally started reading this book three years ago, then got distracted. The fact that the author is speaking tonight in Toronto (and that I am attending) motivated me to re-start and I'm glad I did.

The book makes a compelling case, but is never strident. Highly recommended.

[Mimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

An informing book. A Christian perspective is not quite my cup of tea but I did rather like its in take whole heartedly.

[Nick]

I won this on first reads.

Very good book. I found new ways to look at things as well as learning alot that I just had never thought about.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review can be found here: http://quivermom.blogspot.com/2009/11...

[Kathleen]

I am skeptical of the global warming issue but I also try to be good to the planet God gave us. Curious to read what the book says. I saw this in Time 100 influential people issue.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a different book about climate change from a Christian point of view. They do not believe the end of us will be from climate change.

[Don · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is so much we could do to diminish carbon dioxide emissions and why not?