The creation narrative in ‘Genesis’ : A case of environmental monitoring and audit

Abstract

Ecology is a central topic of interest in the 21st century environmental ethics of both the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches. The views of these institutions are in tandem with regard to the importance of protecting the natural environment in its totality for the planet’s survival. The Creation is the legacy left by our forebears to present and future generations, thus we have a responsibility to manage it well. The contemporary position of the Churches‟ respective spiritual leaders can be gleaned through the pastoral letters and encyclical letters of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Pope Francis, respectively. A dimension which may contribute to addressing the current global environmental crisis is the notion of environmental monitoring and audit: an assessment of the impact generated by any type of development once it has been completed. Environmental impact assessments are at the core of environmental protection and management. However, it is equally important to audit a given development once it has been executed. Such a perspective has been endorsed for many years by various countries, including the European Union. This theme, although not prominent in the contemporary social teachings of the Churches, is at the crux of environmental ethics. Whilst outlining the main visions of the respective Church leaders on the environment, including „Laudato Si‟, this paper proposes the use of monitoring and audits as an additional dimension to the position of the Churches to ensure the protection and enhancement of nature. This paper seeks to do this by addressing the creation narrative of „Genesis‟ as a case-study of environmental monitoring and audit.