Debating Climate Ethics Revisited. Issue 2 (4th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gardiner, Stephen M.
• Is Part Of: Ethics, policy & environment. Volume 24:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 111
• Publication Date: 2021-05-04
• Subjects: Climate justice -- climate policy -- feasibility -- David Weisbach -- climate politics -- Eric Posner; Environmental ethics -- Periodicals; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; 179.1
• DOI: 10.1080/21550085.2021.1990674
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2155-0085

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In Debating Climate Ethics, David Weisbach and I offer contrasting views of the importance of ethics and justice for climate policy. I argue that ethics is central. Weisbach advocates for climate policy based purely on narrow forms of self-interest. For this symposium, I summarize the major themes, and extend my basic argument. I claim that ethics gets the problem right, whereas dismissing ethics risks getting the problem dangerously wrong, and perpetuating profound injustices. One consequence is that we should reject the alleged "feasibility constraint" of short-term, economic self-interest.