Loading...
Climate Change and Responsibility to Future Generations
Heeger, Robert
Heeger, Robert
Author(s)
Author(s) (Additional)
Illustrator(s)
Producer(s)
Contributor(s)
Contributor(s) (Other)
Editor(s)
Advisor(s)
Contact(s)
Data Collector(s)
Keywords
Collections
Files
Loading...
cde.pdf
Adobe PDF, 132.94 KB
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Online Access
Abstract
Climate change raises in an important way the problem of moral responsibility. It forces us to recognise that we have a responsibility to future generations, and to ask what this responsibility implies. Here I identify four key normative questions: (1) How should we respond to uncertainty? Should we apply cost-benefit analysis in order to cope with uncertainty? (2) How should we evaluate the emission of greenhouse gases? Given that the effects of emissions will be bad, should we judge that we as emitters harm the receivers and by that do them an injustice? (3) How should we compare present costs and future benefits? Should we give little or much weight to the benefits and wellbeing of people in the further future? (4) How should we take heed of human rights? Should we try to avoid the adverse outcomes of a costbenefit approach by adopting a human rights approach that specifies minimum thresholds to which all human beings are entitled?
Note(s)
Topic
Type
Article
Date
2014
Identifier
ISBN
DOI
Copyright/License
Creative Commons Copyright (CC 2.5)