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'As a climate scientist who has worked on this issue for several decades the impacts of global warming are such that I have no hesitation in describing it as a weapon of mass destruction.'

Strong words from leading Christian scientist Sir John Houghton former co chair of the International Panel on climate change and a former Chief Executive of the Met office. But is climate change really happening? If so, is it a consequence of our sin? And what does it mean for us who live in the energy hungry west?

The evidence for climate change is overwhelming. All of the G8 Academies of science and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (a body of over 2,000 of the world's best climate scientists) accept that man made carbon emissions have contributed to a world wide warming of 0.7 C in the last century.

All round the world poor people are already seeing changes in the weather consistent with climate change predictions. In Malawi farmers have had to deal with 12,000 tonnes of sand being dumped on their land after a flash flood. They have to dig down a metre to find good soil. Because of the droughts and floods they never harvest enough for the whole year or even know if they will harvest anything at all.

Scientists project a further warming by the end of this century of between 1.8 and 4 C. These rising temperatures could result in up to 150 million people being displaced from their homes due to drought and floods by 2050.

With many sins we are usually in some way directly exposed to the consequences of our actions. Causing climate change differs, because it means living in a way that has a negative effect on the lives of other people and the planet without necessarily experiencing any immediate consequences ourselves. Unlike murder or adultery, using excess energy in the home or heading off on holiday by plane is not something specifically condemned or prohibited in God's law. Yet the way we live in the rich part of the world is having a detrimental effect on the lives of poor people on the other side of the world. The bible tells us that 'love does no harm to its neighbour' (Romans 13:10), but living in an energy hungry way does harm our neighbour.

Churches in the developing world are already responding to the effect of climate change. Through its partners Tearfund gives communities drought resistant seeds, tools and ideas to tackle the effects of climate change, such as planting saplings to grow a forest to act as a buffer when the floods come again.

However, while helping poor communities adapt to present and future impacts of climate change is vital, it is important to recognise the injustice that they should be in this position in the first place. The United States and Western Europe contribute around 41% of the world's total annual carbon dioxide emissions, compared to 3.5% for the whole of Africa.

We should not despair, with God's help there is much that we can do to address the emissions that lead to climate change. The Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones has said 'we can change the world through bold international treaties and through small personal actions. Seas are filled both by mighty rivers and by drops of rain.'

Tim Magowan

Sir John Houghton was speaking this week at 'Two degrees - One chance' a Tearfund breakfast, hosted by the Presbyterian Moderator and Bishop Harold Miller to enable church leaders, and politicians to explore responses to climate change.