Christians, Climate Science, and Our Culture: Can we Agree?

Christians, Climate Science, and Our Culture: Can we Agree?

5:30 pm: Pizza Supper – the Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation (CSCA) will provide free pizza and drinks. We are asking A Rocha friends to bring along a ready-to-serve small salad or small dessert if you are able to.

Please e-mail Kris Nanda at kkhnanda@hotmail.com to confirm your attendance so we know how much pizza to order.

7:00 pm: Video presentation by Katherine Hayhoe

Mounting scientific evidence clearly documents the risks posed by climate change to the poor, the needy, and other vulnerable populations, the very people Christians are called to love. As the scientific evidence builds, however, so does the vocal opposition to this evidence: in Canada, the U.S., Australia and the U.K. Much of the disagreement comes from political and religious conservatives. Why is climate change so polarizing to these communities? What makes it so hard to comprehend and accept? Combining basic tenets of the Christian faith with recent findings from the areas of psychology, sociology, and climate science, Hayhoe will discuss potential reasons for these disagreements and the role that shared values may play in moving us forward past these barriers.

Katherine Hayhoe is a professor and Director of the Climate Science Centre at Texas Tech University. Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in 2014. She was recently named a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations and is the Climate Ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance. Katherine was interviewed on CBC Radio’s The House last Saturday. Listen to the CBC interview at: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thehouse/connecting-with-people-the-quest-for-common-ground-on-climate-change-1.5401156

Local Panel: Following the video, three local people will give brief responses:

Anthony Siegrist, pastor of Ottawa Mennonite Church, holds a PhD in Theology and is currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Environmental Sustainability program at the University of Ottawa.

John Cook, has a PhD in physics, and worked as a research officer at the National Research Council in solid state physics.

Karri Munn-Venn, is the Senior Policy Analyst with Citizens for Public Justice.

Discussion and Questions: There will be time for discussion and questions following the brief responses by the panel members.

Sponsorship: In addition to A Rocha and the CSCA, this event is also sponsored by Ottawa Christian Reformed Campus Chaplaincy, the Graduate and Faculty Christian Fellowship at the University of Ottawa, and the Laurentian Leadership Centre.