Climate Change Acceleration

I started C3 six years ago after the birth of my first grandson because I was concerned about what scientists were saying regarding the trajectory of a warming planet and its threat to all creation. Scientists warned that unchecked fossil fuel emissions could destabilize human civilization by the end of this century. A strong scientific consensus emerged that if global temperatures rise 2°C above pre-industrial levels, cascading effects could follow—rising seas, extreme weather, desertification, species extinction, and mass migration.

Today, six years later, with six grandkids running around Raleigh, NC, I must update my concerns. I am no longer thinking about threats at the end of the century, but in the middle of it. Global temperatures temporarily exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in 2024—earlier than many scientists predicted. I once worried about the world my grandchildren would face in their 70s and 80s. Now I worry about the world they will inherit in their 30s.

Scientists and journalists are describing current federal policies as contributing to “climate acceleration.” While 2024 was the hottest year on record, 2025 may be remembered as one of the most consequential environmental policy years in modern history. President Trump recently signed executive orders promoting coal production and directing federal spending to extend the life of coal-fired power plants.

After years of gradual emissions decline since 2007, early 2025 data show U.S. emissions rising approximately 1.9%, with increased coal generation playing a significant role.

Perhaps the most consequential action came when the Environmental Protection Agency revoked the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which had established that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. That finding formed the legal foundation for regulating emissions from vehicles and power plants. The administration argues deregulation could save $1.3 trillion. However, those projections do not include the mounting costs of extreme weather, public health burdens, infrastructure damage, or climate-driven migration.

During the 2024 campaign, President Trump reportedly told oil executives that contributing $1 billion to his campaign would be a bargain based on policies he would implement. Oil companies have continued to post significant profits. ExxonMobil earned $7.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025 alone. BP reported approximately $7.5 billion in annual profits, and Chevron earned roughly $12.3 billion. Meanwhile, the administration proposed cutting the EPA budget by roughly 55% and reducing FEMA preparedness grants by $646 million.

Here is the bottom line: Current federal policies are increasing fossil fuel production while weakening environmental safeguards and disaster preparedness. As climate pressures intensify, safety nets for vulnerable communities are being reduced.

For Christians, creation care is not a partisan issue—it is a matter of stewardship and faithfulness. The earth is the Lord’s, and we are called to protect what belongs to God.