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Wealthy, industrialized countries have unquestionably contributed most
to atmospheric pollution. In our effort, then, to contain and reverse global
warming, we must honestly ask ourselves: Will we in the West, in more affluent
countries, sacrifice our self-indulgence and consumerism? Will we direct our
focus away from what we want to what the rest of the world needs? Will we
recognize and assume our responsibility to leave a lighter footprint on this
planet for them and for the sake of future generations? We must choose to
care; otherwise, we do not really care at all.
At stake is not just our respect for biodiversity, but our very survival.
Scientists calculate that those most harmed by global warming in the future
will be the most vulnerable and marginalized. We know, then, that the
ecological crisis is directly related to the ethical challenge of eliminating
poverty and advocating human rights. The dignity and rights of human beings
are intimately and integrally related to the beauty and – we would dare to say –
the rights of the earth itself. After all, who will dare to speak for the voiceless
resources of our planet? Who will step up to protect the silent diversity of its
species? Will our generation accept responsibility for pushing our environment
over the tipping-point?
This underlines what we have been saying for almost three decades –
namely, that global warming is a moral crisis and a moral challenge. It is a crisis
about and within the human heart. The solution of the ecological problem is
not only a matter of science, technology and politics but also, and perhaps
primarily, a matter of radical change of mind, of new values, of a new ethos.
For the Orthodox tradition, sin has a cosmic dimension and
cosmological impact. The theology of the Orthodox Church recognizes the
natural creation as inseparable from the identity and destiny of humanity,
inasmuch as every human action leaves a lasting imprint on the body of the
earth. This means that human attitudes and behavior towards other people
directly impact on and reflect human attitudes and behavior toward creation.
This is why we use the term metanoia, which signifies a shift of mind, a
total change of heart, to determine the transformation of our attitudes and
actions toward our world. This is very important because, during the last
century, a century of immense scientific progress, we also experienced the
biggest destruction of the natural environment. Science will inform us about
the world; but it cannot reach the depth of our soul and mind. Today, we know;
and yet we still continue to act against our knowledge. Knowledge has
unfortunately not resulted in metanoia.

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