ordinary people, particularly in the third world. There really needs to be very big development and investment in appropriate technology to provide for the two billion in the world who have no access to commercial energy at all - that is one third of the world's population who have no access to electrical energy. But they urgently need it; and we've got to help provide it - but in a sustainable way.

What's the cost of all this going to be? The UK Government in its Energy White Paper (2002) has proposed a target for 2050 of a 60 percent reduction in Greenhouse gas emissions - including CO2 emissions. That is a challenging target. The Government's Policy Information Unit in Downing Street asked Treasury economists (not particularly green economists) what the cost of meeting that target will be for the UK economy, because many people argue that the cost will be too great. The economists came back and said it will be less than 1 percent of GNP (or six month's growth) over fifty years - nothing that could affect adversely the economy. The cost is really in the will to do it. And it's going to be exciting to do it. It will help industries to be innovative and do things that industry is very good at - in order to be able to produce the result that we all require. So it's a major challenge to all of us: scientists, industry and technology, governments, everybody.

What can we do as individuals? Well we can cut down on waste, we can save energy and natural resources by a whole variety of means in our homes. We can travel sensibly - having, for example, very efficient motor cars and watching, in particular, our travelling by air, because it is rather expensive in terms of CO2 emissions. And there are projects you can support, such as Operation Noah, run by Christian Ecology Link (CEL). It provides pledges that all of us can sign to say we will do our part in combating this problem of Climate Change.

Operation Noah was officially launched in Coventry on 9 October.

See: www.christian-ecology.org.uk

A Green Christology
By Sean McDonagh SSC

The following is based on the text: "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

The offices of environmental organisations may not be the most efficient places in the world, but I am always impressed by the passion and commitment of those working there and the creativity embodied in the posters and cartoons that festoon the walls, and even the ceilings.

Yet, as a Catholic missionary, I find it very significant and sad that, whilst the text on the posters might come from Chief Seattle’s address or the Indian poet Tagore, I have never seen a quotation from the Bible or a reference to the words of Jesus. It often transpires that many of the people working in these offices, promoting campaigns as diverse as biodiversity, organic farming or water conservation, are dedicated Christians, but it seems that very little inspiration for their work flows either from the teachings of the Church or from the life of Jesus. This is a tragedy, especially for the Christian Churches, because it means that the Good News of Jesus is not seen as having anything to contribute to addressing the most crucial issue of late 20th century: the rampant and, often irreversible destruction of God’s creation.

It is particularly tragic because Christians and others have much to learn from the attitude of respect which Jesus displayed towards the natural world. For example, there is no support in the New Testament for an exploitative, throw-away consumer society which, in the last four decades, has destroyed the natural world in so many parts of the globe and produced mountains of non-biodegradable and toxic waste which will plague the people and creatures of planet Earth for centuries.