Society must protect the environment

Every Ghanaian should be responsible for protecting the environment, but many argue that since God gave humankind dominion over the earth, they are allowed to eat anything they discover in nature.

They have misconstrued biblical passages to support unrestrained resource consumption and environmental deterioration.

But according to conservation biologist Professor Edward Wiafe Debrah, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), this popular notion is false and has contributed to environmental degradation and resource depletion.

Many Christians frequently cited Genesis 1:28, which states that God blessed humanity and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply. He says that this verse has been incorrectly misinterpreted to mean that people have unrestricted permission to consume every animal and natural resource on earth, so his call for responsible stewardship is appropriate.

The Spectator agrees with him that since dominion is about responsible leadership and stewardship rather than exploitation, the Bible did not call on humans to destroy or exhaust creation.

Land degradation, such as illegal mining, which is sometimes referred to as “galamsey,” has its own consequences. Ghanaians should remember that religion, science, and environmental conservation are closely related, so destroying the environment will ultimately cause them great suffering.

Therefore, it will be better for us and future generations if we protect the environment and natural resources instead of consuming everything without replenishment.

Once more, it is similarly risky to believe that since no one can predict the end of the world, there is no need to protect the environment. However, humanity still has an obligation to take care of creation while it still exists.

In actuality, animals will eventually go extinct due to indiscriminate hunting, ongoing resource use, and a lack of strategic measures for conservation and replacement.

We join Prof. Debrah in urging society to handle environmental issues by integrating scientific knowledge with cultural and religious beliefs rather than depending just on religious interpretations.

It is important for society to understand that healthy ecosystems enhance food quality, lower disease rates, and help purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and other dangerous gasses through plants.

As a result, farmers must implement sustainable farming methods that safeguard important insects, including bees, which naturally pollinate crops.

We should be aware that the earth and its resources are gifts from God, thus it is our duty to preserve and responsibly manage them for future generations as well as for ourselves.

Society has to understand that protecting the environment is not at odds with religion but rather a crucial duty bequeathed to humanity.