Environmental Decision-making:

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Environmental Decision-making Does Theology
Help? Dilemmas of the Severn Barrage
Proposal Trinity College 10 March
2007 Barrages, Birds and the Bible (or How
green is my barrage?)
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A Biblical Basis for Environmental Concern 1.
God, Humanity and Creation the Old Testament
Perspective
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Our place in creation the vertical axis ?We
have special status, made in Gods image and
given dominion by him (Gen 126-28). ?We are
little lower than the heavenly beings
crownedwith glory and honour, and God has put
all things under our feet (Ps 85-8). ?The
heavens are the Lords heavens, but the earth he
has given to human beings (Ps 11516).
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Our place in creation the horizontal axis ?We
are made from the earth (Gen 27), like plants,
animals and birds (Gen 111-12, 24 219). ?We
share the breath of life with other creatures
(Gen 27, compare 130 715). ?We and the
animals are all nephesh hayah (??? ??? Gen 124
27). ?All living things are interdependent
(Gen 130) and this is what makes creation very
good (131).
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Dominion interpreted ?As Gods image, we must
model our dominion on his care and provision for
his creatures (Ps 104 see also the rule of the
ideal king, Ps 7212-14 etc). ?Gods covenant is
between God and every living creature of all
flesh that is on the earth (Gen 916 etc), with
humanity as natures representative (912).
?Adams role in Gen 215 is to serve/honour
and protect/watch over rather than till and
keep (the same two words are used together of
the Levites role in Num 37-8 etc).
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A view of creation that is God-centred ?Genesis
619, Noah is told to save two of every living
thing of all flesh, not just the useful
kinds. ?Job 38-39 an antidote to
anthropocentricity! God has ordered the world so
as to bring rain on a land where no-one lives,
on the wilderness devoid of human life
(3825-6). ?The earth is the Lords, and
everything in it. (Psalm 241)
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2. God, humanity and creation the New Testament
Perspective Note that the New
Testament presupposes the Old
Testament and builds on it.
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All things were created through him and for
him and in him all things hold together. In
him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile to himself all
things, whether on earth or in heaven, making
peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians
116-17 19-20). His purpose, which he set
forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of
time, to unite all things in him, things in
heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 110)
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The elements shall melt with fervent heat, the
earth also and the works that are therein shall
be burned up. (2 Peter 310, KJV)
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and the earth and the works that are done on
it will be exposed literally found. (2 Peter
310, ESV) We are waiting for new
heavens and a new earth in which righteousness
dwells. (2 Peter 313)
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2 Peter 313 uses kainos which means renewed,
new in character or quality (not neos, new,
fresh, recent), as in 2 Corinthians 517
describing believers in Christ. Also in
Revelation 211-3 Then I saw a new heaven and
a new earth And I saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
(Revelation 211-3)
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? Our attitude to creation should not
be anthropocentric but Christocentric. ? Human
beings are not saved out of a fallen creation,
but all of creation will be transformed and
redeemed through Christ. ? The earth (and thus
presumably the whole material creation) has a
continuing place in Gods plan and we abuse it if
we treat it as an expendable item.
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Valuing
Biodiversity Pragmatic values Economic
Plants and animals are a source of food,
clothing, construction materials, genetic
material etc.
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Valuing
Biodiversity Pragmatic values Economic
Plants and animals are a source of food,
clothing, construction materials, genetic
material etc. Survival value Biodiversity
is the basis of a healthy, balanced global
ecology capable of sustaining life on Earth. A
diverse ecosystem is a stable ecosystem because
it is complex and flexible enough to be
self-regulating. (Ann Fullick, New
Scientist, Inside Science Supplement 156
Conservation, Dec. 2002.)
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Aesthetic value spiritual refreshment inspiratio
n for art literature
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Aesthetic value spiritual refreshment inspiratio
n for art literature
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Theological value ?Job 38-39 a celebration of
diversity with emphasis on creatures of no
obvious use to human beings. ?Psalm 104 in
which diversity is Gods glory May the glory of
the Lord endure forever may the Lord rejoice in
his works. (v. 31) ?Psalms 19, 148 etc.
Creation itself gives God praise without human
help.
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The creation worships God just by being itself,
as God made it, existing for Gods glory. The
key point that is implicit in these depictions
of the worship of creation is the intrinsic
value of all creatures, in the theocentric sense
of the value given them by their creator and
offered back to God in praise. Richard
Bauckham (in Berry 2006, p. 49)
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Source M. E. Moser, RSPB Conservation Review 1,
198734.
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UK estuaries support over 20 of the total
number of waders wintering on the Atlantic
seaboard of Europe and Africa. (M. E.
Moser) The number of Ringed Plovers, Grey
Plovers, Curlews, Redshanks and Dunlin it
supports means the Estuary is internationally
important for each one of these species. (The
Severn Estuary A heritage for wildlife, Severn
Estuary Conservation Group.) The Severn
and its sub-estuaries represent 7 of the UKs
total estuary resource for wildlife. (WWF
Cymru)
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A barrage would ?Reduce by 50-60 the
intertidal flats upstream of the barrage,
decreasing feeding areas for waders and wildfowl.
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A barrage would ?Reduce by 50-60 the
intertidal flats upstream of the barrage,
decreasing feeding areas for waders and
wildfowl. ?Result in tidal flats being available
to birds for shorter periods (crucial in winter
when days shorter and weather colder).
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- particularly serious for species such as
Redshank (already in steep decline) and Curlew
(expected to decline with climate change).
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A relatively small additional increase in winter
mortality could result in a lowering of total
population size by approximately 50.... There
would be internationally important numbers
affected by the loss of intertidal
habitat. A. J. Prater, Aquatic Ecology 12,
1978.
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A barrage would also ?Attract more development
to the coast, further reducing wildlife habitat.
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A barrage would also ?Attract more development
to the coast, further reducing wildlife
habitat. ?Make the estuary upstream of the
barrage accessible for leisure use, bringing
disturbance.
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Source Western Daily Press, 02.02.2007
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On the other hand The Severn has a lower
carrying capacity for shore birds than anywhere
else in the UK, perhaps anywhere in the world.
This impoverishment is a natural phenomenon.
There is a progressive trend towards ultimate
barrenness. R. Kirby, Tidal Power Barrage in
the Severn Estuary Environmental Consequences,
2006.
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Source N. A. Clark, Ibis 148, 2006156
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With safeguards against overdevelopment and
disturbance a barrage could ?Provide some
defense for the existing habitat against rising
sea levels and the eroding effects of increasing
storms. ?Create a richer biodiversity than that
of the present estuary. ?Make possible the
creation of new onshore habitats.
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Conclusion? A barrage would enhance the
estuarys ecosystem? The ecosystem should
be preserved as is? Renewable energy is
an overriding priority? Can we achieve more than
one aim?
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