Ethics of Climate Change Final

consilience

"jumping together" independent lines of evidence point to same conclusion

GWP

1. CO2-->lifetime 100 years, GWP: 1, stays in atmosphere until a biological or chemical process removes it 2. CH4-->lifetime 12 years, GWP: 25, broken down in atmosphere thru chemical processes 3. N20-->lifetime 114 years, GWP: 298, present in very small amounts but highly potent 4. CFCs-->lifetime 270 years, GWP: 14,800, completely manmade

the global storm

1. dispersion of causes and effects--effects of CC not recognized at source of pollution 2. fragmentation of agency--caused by multiple individuals and institutions rather than traceable to a few main sources 3. institutional inadequacy--no centralized global gov that can organize and direct change responsibility on richer nations

the intergenerational storm

1. dispersion of causes and effects--effects of pollution are realized in the future (temporal mismatch), CC is both resilient and backloaded 2. fragmentation of agency--must coordinate actions with future generations, current generations must address problems of past generations, incentive to act in best interests of current generations (ie. cheap energy) 3. institutional inadequacy--nations and governments are biased toward the present

Gardiner's 3 storms that make CC hard to address

1. global storm 2. intergenerational storm 3. theoretical storm

examples of geoengineering

1. releasing large amounts of SO2 into the atmosphere 2. reforestation 3. ocean fertilization 4. albedo modification 5. removal of atmospheric CFCs

carbon sequestration

A method of storing carbon emissions to prevent their release into the atmosphere

carbon sink

A natural environment that absorbs and stores more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases, which offsets greenhouse gas emissions.

What are the main goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and how does it differ from the Kyoto Protocol?

Goals: 1. keep increase in global avg temps well below 2 degrees C and to 1.5 degrees C if possible 2. level off GHG emissions ASAP Kyoto: -cap and trade for carbon pollution -contraction (per1) & convergence (per2) -dev countries must directly reduce emissions and share tech with developing countries for indirect reduction Paris: -countries must submit INDC which increase every 5 years (voluntary) -rich countries must contribute 100 B per year from 2020 -must be ratified by 55 countries accounting for 55% of global emissions -no enforcement mechanism

Review Peter Singer's (also in Henning) discussion of the various options for an equitable/fair distribution of responsibility in "One Atmosphere" and then comment on which of his models, if any, you find to be most appropriate and why?

I like the "polluter pays" model incentivizes people to take responsibility for their actions promotes clean up efforts in tandem with reduction efforts could be enacted through clean-up laws as well as emissions fees/taxes

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, panel of scientists and researchers has been one of the main bodies in environmental control and standards in the international community

CC as a moral issue

Laudato Si 1. moral failing 2. misunderstanding of dominion 3. CC is symptom of deeper moral problem Environmental Justice Principles 1. disproportionate effect on poor and vulnerable 2. dispersion of effects across time and space Moral issue must call for moral solution one side views CC has problem other as symptom or result of moral failing Cafaro: voluntary simplicity

stewardship model and my opinion

Laudato Si: calls for responsible stewardship duty to protect creation really preaching care over stewardship self-stewardship: can be a shallow use of stewardship that leads to arrogance so calls for change in view of relationship of humans to nature we are not in charge of nature nature does not need people to fix it must redefine humanity stewardship as anthropocentric: embodies idea that earth depends on people as caretakers earth existed before humans and will continue to exist after should adopt voluntary simplicity instead

In light of anthropogenic climate change, discuss whether and when we might have a moral obligation to change what we eat.

Livestock has a major contribution to CC 1. 18% of GW effect 2. larger than transportation 3. 70% of sustainable boundary will be used by livestock by 2050

Some would claim that the challenge of anthropogenic climate change is crisis whose solution is to be found in the creation of new technologies. Others (e.g., Pope Francis, Jamieson) contend that new technologies are needed, but that the ecological crisis is not merely a technological problem to be managed, but also a moral problem that requires a rethinking of how our notions or progress and even how we conceive of ourselves and our relationship to the natural world. Briefly characterize this debate and then defend your own reasoned position in relationship to the readings from this semester.

New tech side: 1. problem=climate change itself 2. happiness achieved thru wealth and consumption 3. goal=make consumerism and materialism sustainable Moral side: 1. problem=gross consumption and materialism, climate change is a symptom 2. happiness achieved thru meaningful life in community and harmony with nature 3. goal=become member of wider biotic community my opinion 1. tech needed to save us in SR (possibly geoengineering) 2. ultimately need to adopt voluntary simplicity to undertake "great work" of reorganizing society

Do we have responsibilities to future generations?

Schwartz: 1. decisions we make today determine who will exist in the future (atomistic notion of identity) 2. we can neither help nor harm people who do not yet exist 3. if we cannot help/harm individuals we have no duties to them Parfit: 1. whether or not someone is harmed is irrelevant to whether an action is right/wrong 2. intending to cause harm (even if no harm occurs) is still wrong 3. obligation does not have to be just to individuals 4. outdated ethical theories inspired by low population, low technology, and seemingly infinite resources we should care how we treat the earth because we can create a world of great beauty or a world of great suffering

stewardship

The duty to care for creation responsibly, as stewards rather than consumers, and to protect it for future generations. anthropocentric viewpoint

carbon budget

The surplus or deficit of carbon once carbon output is subtracted from carbon input. 516 gigatons is what will keep us under 2 degrees warming 350ppm is what will keep us under 1.8 degrees warming

cap and trade

a method for managing pollution in which a limit is placed on emissions and businesses or countries can buy and sell emissions allowances strives to internalize externalities

scientific theory

a never failed confirmation of a hypothesis

Sustainability

ability to meet all needs with present without compromising ability of future generations to meet their needs does not speak to quality of life

consensus

agreement between people

anthropocentric

all and only human beings have intrinsic value all other beings are only valuable insofar as they are valued by humans, but have no value in their own right

What is "sustainability" and is it an adequate concept around which to base a moral philosophy? According to Riders in the Storm, what are some of the ethical difficulties with sustainability as a moral concept?

can meet needs of present without compromising needs of future meeting needs does not address quality of life, so inadequate does not address root of problem (consumption/materialistic outlook does not lead to fulfilling life and causes harm to environment) must redefine definition of progress to address moral human failing (deep sustainability) environmental degradation is a moral failing

greenhouse effect

cause of GW 1. incoming solar radiation transmitted by atmosphere to earth's surface which it warms 2. energy retransmitted as thermal radiation 3. some is absorbed by greenhouse gasses instead of being reflected back into space, warming the atmosphere

Great work

change how people relate to environment (ecozoic or technozoic

anthropogenic

changes brought about by human activity

climate change

changes in long term averages of daily weather

voluntary simplicity

consciously chosen, deliberate, intentional supports higher quality of life not a sacrifice

social discount rate

describes valuation in present terms of future outcomes indicates that future is worth less than present D=1/r+1

moral significance of Gaia position and my opinion

earth=self-regulating, homeostatic system superorganism: combination or organisms that make up a single organism (termite colony) has boundaries but no clear membrane humans are part of Gaia but not owners/stewards (focus on own survival) agree with gaia and think that humans should try to live as part of creation in a mutually beneficial way rather than try to dominate/destroy it...must change consumption practices

Milankovich theory/cycles

earths orbit goes through variations leading to varying distribution of solar radiation and 60% of Ice Ages correlate with these cycles CC happening too quickly to be explained by this 1. Tilt, 42k years 2. Eccentricity, 100k years 3. Precession, 23k years

In the context of the appropriate readings from class, discuss whether and how our responses to anthropogenic climate change should primarily be guided by an economic analysis.

economic analysis is a beneficial way to "meet humanity where we are at" and inspire change, but ultimately must undertake the "great work" (Thomas Berry) of changing how humans see themselves in the context of nature 1. cap & trade-->can quantifiably limit pollution on a short time scale, 12 years left until catastrophic consequences so need quick global action, addresses issues of firm pollution and internalizes externalities, incentivizes investment in greener technologies/practices 2. carbon tax-->can address pollution on an individual and collective level by making people pay for pollution, option to reinvest revenue in greener technologies, encourages firms and people to use greener practices by internalizing externalities 3. must attack CC at root of the problem...Laudato Si says must attack technocratic paradigm which promotes infinite growth and consumption, should pursue voluntary simplicity, emphasize mutually beneficial relationship with creation and avoid materialistic and consumerist practices

negative economic externality

exists when the consumption/production of one entity affect the utility/production of another entity without that entity's permission or compensation costs of climate change from activities such as firm production not reflected in price of goods that firm produces

intergenerational justice

extended nature of climate change effects people who do not yet exist obligations to future humans

negative feedback

factors which tend to decrease the rate of a process eg. increased C02, increased plant growth, decreased C02

positive feedback

factors which tend to increase the rate of a process eg. snowmelt decreasing albedo leading to more snowmelt tree mortality, wildfire intensity, increased C02, increased tree mortality

how does a cap and trade market approach to addressing CC work?

firms must essentially purchase the ability to pollute essentially "carves up" total emissions that firms can produce and sells portions strives to internalize externalities and incentivize greener practices by putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions

eccentricity

flatness of elliptical orbit

climate change denier

has an opinion and looks for claims that agree with what they believe is true wants to be right infallible motivated reasoning dogmatic

Geoengineering

intentional large scale manipulation of the environment particularly manipulation that is intended to reduce undesired anthropogenic CC

Define geoengineering, including several examples, and then discuss whether and/or when geoengineering is a morally defensible response to a challenge such as anthropogenic climate change.

intentional, large scale manipulation of the environment, particularly manipulation that is intended to reduce undesired anthropogenic CC moral issues: 1. weaponization of weather 2. human meddling fixed by more meddling 3. uncertainty 4. high risk for unintended consequences 5. could save some people/species and kill others Examples: 1. SO2 release into atmosphere 2. reforestation 3. ocean fertilization 4. albedo modification 5. removal of atmospheric CFCs might be last resort, would start with safer options

Ecozoic Era

involves changing how humans interact with creation would mean undertaking a "great work" to change society's way of thinking not anti-technology focus on mutually beneficial relationships

how does carbon tax/fee approach to addressing CC work?

makes polluting more expensive by taxing or making consumers pay a fee for tons of CO2 released goal to incentivize greener practices can be revenue neutral or generate revenue

greenhouse gasses

molecules in the atmosphere that absorb heat and reradiate it back to earth 1. CO2 2. CH4 3. CFCs 4. N20

technocratic paradigm

new technology is good technology is the "end" to strive for science attempting to control nature and dominate it assumes progress is good and infinite supply of resources

tilt

obliquity of orbit from 21.6-24.5 degrees

scientific fact

particular, careful observations that are public and reproducable

the theoretical storm

people are not adequately prepared to address CC problem theories are insufficient to combat complexity of CC issue humans have a morally corrupt outlook that perpetuates CC

mitigation

reducing causes of CC

adaptation

reducing effects of climate change planning for climate resilience eg. planning of infrastructure around CC events

precession

season during which earth is facing the sun

enhanced greenhouse effect

the added effect caused by the greenhouse gasses present in the atmosphere due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation

weather

the current conditions of the atmosphere, including wind, temperature, precipitation, pressure, and cloud cover

albedo

the fraction of light reflected by a surface whiter surfaces have a higher albedo

global warming

the idea that increased greenhouse gasses cause the earth's temperature to rise globally

anthropocene

the modern geological era during which humans have dramatically affected the environment

climate

the prevailing weather conditions of an area averaged over a long period of time

climate change skeptic

uses science to develop/derive/test important for critical analysis open ended pursuit of getting it right fallible

What is voluntary simplicity and how is it unlike poverty or sacrifice?

voluntary simplicity: 1. cuts thru needless busyness 2. doing work worth doing 3. invests in family, friends, community, and cosmos 4. harmonious relationship with earth 5. lasting satisfaction 6. rich, aesthetic life sacrifice: 1. overstressed, overbusy, overworked 2. investing long hours in unsatisfying work 3. apart from family/community 4. cut off from nature 5. lack of opportunity for soulful encounters with others 6. hard ascetic life poverty: not a choice/debilitating focus on shifting away from materialistic outlook which is an impediment to happiness