Caring About Our Planet is an Act of
Stewardship and Faith
By Don Gordon
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, with six grandkids now 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.
As a grandfather, I care deeply about my grandchildren’s futures. As a Christian, I also care deeply about how climate change impacts all of humanity – and about humanity’s role as steward of the earth.
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.
There is some good news that offers some hope. Economic trends are also telling an important story about the future of energy. Over the past decade, the cost of solar and wind has dropped dramatically – perhaps as much as 90% – making these renewables some of the most affordable sources of electricity in many regions. At the same time, many households are experiencing rising electricity bills as aging infrastructure, extreme weather events, and increased demand strain energy systems. These trends are accelerating the transition toward cleaner energy not only for environmental reasons but also for economic ones. As markets, utilities, and governments respond to these pressures, the global energy landscape is beginning to shift in ways that were difficult to imagine just a generation ago.
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. From the opening chapters of Genesis, humanity is entrusted with the care of God’s creation. We are called to “till and keep” the garden, acting as stewards of a world that ultimately belongs to God. Creation care is therefore not optional for followers of Christ; it is part of our discipleship. When the earth that God declared “very good” is degraded, polluted, or destabilized, faithful stewardship calls us to respond.
Climate change also raises profound questions about how we love our neighbors. The people who contribute the least to global greenhouse gas emissions are often those who suffer the most from droughts, floods, extreme heat, and food insecurity. Around the
world – and even within our own communities – the poor, the elderly, children, and those living in vulnerable regions bear the greatest burdens from a warming climate. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught the way to love God is to love our neighbor, especially our vulnerable, wounded neighbors. By caring for creation and addressing climate change in a thoughtful way, we are helping our neighbors around the world, and those yet to be born, have a greater chance to flourish in God’s world. We are fulfilling the law of God.
Don Gordon is the founder and CEO of C3 – Christians Caring for Creation, a nonprofit founded in 2020 to mobilize Christians to respond faithfully to the climate crisis. Don earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary, has authored three books, and currently serves as Interim Senior Pastor at St. John’s Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. Inspired by watching a Primer presentation, Don joined C-Change’s outreach efforts and now shares our materials with C3 subscribers.
