Global warming and climate change

September 14, 2021

By Deacon Tom Cervone, Ph.D., Sister Maureen Houlihan, D.C., and Nicole Cervone-Gish, Ed. M.S.

Our Mother Earth

Editor’s note: This series takes a deeper look at Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical On the Care for Our Common Home, “Laudato Si’”.

In previous articles, we’ve highlighted Pope Francis’ efforts in “Laudato Si’” and discussed many ecological principles. But there’s more, such as melting of the Earth’s permafrost; melting of glaciers and icebergs; and a reduction in albedo (reflectivity of the sun’s rays) by snow covered areas in the world.

“Fossil fuel emissions from human activities are driving up the Earth’s temperature, and nature is responding by raising temperatures even higher” reports Climate Emergency-Feedback Loops (Moving Still Productions, Inc., 2021). They say, “We need to reduce fossil fuel emissions, re-green the Earth, and stop deforestation” so that we can offset global warming and climate change. “Sanctuaries in Southern Indiana: A Faith-based View of Sycamore’s Work,” by Rabbi Brian Besser (The Twig, Winter-Spring 2021, pages 14-16) is another reference that gives even more reasons for preservation, conservation and restoration measures.

The melting of permafrost is a significant issue. Permafrost takes up about one quarter of the northern hemisphere, and has much carbon in its soil. It’s normally frozen, and melts and refreezes for short periods of time. But with global warming, it melts earlier and freezes later allowing microbes in the soil to digest the carbon that produces carbon dioxide and methane. These greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere at alarming rates today.

The reduction of albedo is another important issue. The poles can reflect significant amounts of the sun’s rays and act as natural mirrors. But with melting of the poles, glaciers and icebergs, we have more water that absorbs heat; and more greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere that contribute to sea-level rise. In some ocean basins, sea levels have risen 6-8 inches since the start of the satellite record in 1993 (Rebecca Lindsey, NOAA Climate.gov, January 25, 2021). With sea levels rising, what will happen to people living along the coast?

Our atmosphere has too many greenhouse gases, and we need to reduce them by not burning fossil fuels. With these gases is water vapor. Clouds may cool the Earth’s surface by reflection, or they may heat the Earth’s surface by trapping heat. When we emit fossil fuel gases, the atmospheric temperature rises, oceans warm, water vapor increases from evaporation, all of which trap more heat in the atmosphere. This scenario drives hurricanes, which have been predicted to increase in number and severity.

Also, “greenhouse gases are increasingly disrupting the jet stream, a powerful river of winds that steers weather systems in the Northern Hemisphere that cause more frequent summer droughts, floods and wildfires” (Inside Climate News, Bob Berwyn, 10/31/2018). Regions normally wet will have more flooding, and regions usually dry will show more droughts. Melting of Greenland and polar caps is affecting the Gulf Stream too (Tim Radford, Concern as Climate Impacts on Gulf Stream Flow, Our World – Brought to you by United Nations University, 4/2/2015).

In summary, we need to reduce fossil-fuel emissions, re-green the Earth, stop deforestation and stop all losses to green ecosystems throughout the world. We need to return Earth back to nearly how our Lord created it, and in this way we will be “good and faithful servants.” As the United Nations Secretary-General (Antonio Guterrres) said on 8/9/2021, “There is no time for delay, and no room for excuses.”

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Dr. Tom Cervone is a deacon at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Evansville, Indiana with 50 years of experience in ecology. He graduated from St. Bonaventure University, a Franciscan University. Sister Maureen Houlihan, D.C. is a support sister on the Seton Harvest Farm started by the Daughters of Charity in response to the Communities - Care of Mother Earth. This CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm grows all natural produce for shareholders and the poor. Nicole Cervone-Gish, Ed. MS. is an award winning ELL (English Language Learner) teacher, who lives in Evansville, Indiana with her family.