‘Earth Summits are all talk and no action’ Do you agree?
An Earth Summit is a global conference where political leaders of each country decide the best way to look after the Earth and to live a sustainable life. These political leaders are of different religions, cultures and backgrounds so their views will differ and sometimes, there is no result to Earth Summits. This essay will question if Earth Summits help us to look after the Earth or if they truly are ‘all talk’.
On one hand, people may disagree with the statement because over the recent decades, we have become more aware of increasing damage to the environment and a widening global gap between the rich and the poor. Governments have learnt ways to become more sustainable and have many policies that show this. They also promote a clear understanding of, and commitment to, sustainable development so that all people can contribute to the overall goal through their individual decisions. There are also some religious views that disagree with the statement. A Christian might disagree because they believe in stewardship and by attending Earth Summits people are trying to look after God’s sacred Earth. Although the Earth Summits may have minimal results, the world is trying to agree on a view that will improve the quality of life for future generations. Christians believe that we are looking after the planet for God – stewardship – and that we must not exploit it. This can be understood in Exodus 23:10-11 “And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.”