It depends on whether you are anthropocentric, biocentric or theocentric.
If you are anthropocentric, then taking care of the earth is all about us. We need to take better care of the earth, or we won't be able to live on it much longer. God did create the universe, but he did so for humans to have dominion over it for our benefit. Because we are intrinsically connected with the rest of the natural order, we need to be concerned about the environment. In practice, relying on human beings to regulate our approach to anything, including caring for the earth, results in exploitation, sin and greed. It tends to lean to the "right" of humans to exploit the earth and the resources that God created.
If you are biocentric, then it is all about the earth. "Mother" earth, as someone said. These are the radical people trying to raise environmental "consciousness" or the earth will die. The New Age movement, and religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and native North American spiritualities espouse this viewpoint. It perverts the message of Scripture and downplays humanity's special place in the plan of creation as divine image bearers. However, it does emphasis the original blessing of creation.
Then, there is the theocentric approach to the earth and environmentalism. God not only created the earth, but he is at the centre of all creation. All of God's creatures, including humans have value only within God's created community. God is creator, and is continuously and dynamically involved in caring for all creation, as Jesus teaches concerning God's care for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.
"Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”
Paul, in one of the most interesting New Testament scriptures, Romans 8:18-23, notes that it is not only we who groan, awaiting the final resurrection and redemption, but the “whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” (Vs. 22) We are waiting for the new creation, but also the entire world awaits the future restoration of the earth in which Eden like conditions of the earth once again flourish. (See Rev. 22:1-5, re: Gen. 2:9-10)
However, this again brings up the eschatological error in which sees the earth as just a temporary home, with us simply passing through, which will be replaced when Jesus returns. Restoration implies that the world, like us, will be transformed rather than completely annihilated and remade.
Many dispenationalists will argue that 2 Peter 3:10 points to the eschatology that the earth is going to be burned up, so why care for something that God has no use for, and is planning on re-creating? Bouma–Prediger, in his book, "For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation," points out that:
"This is perhaps the most egregious mistranslation in the entire New Testament. In fact, the Greek word heureskin states that after a refiner’s fire of purification in verse 7, the earth will be discovered, not destroyed! Creation is not ephemeral and unimportant – some second rate way station until the eschaton – but rather it is our proper home, and 2 Peter 3 speaks of a basic continuity, rather than a discontinuity of this world rather than the next."
God created the world, God loves the world, and God will never leave the world behind.
