Intergenerational Challenges and Climate Justice: Setting the Scope of Our Obligations

Climate change poses questions of intergenerational justice, but it is difficult to determine whether we have obligations to future generations. Livia Ester Luzzatto argues that we have intergenerational obligations because our actions are based on presuppositions about future people and we acquire an obligation to recognize them as agents within our principles of justice. Intergenerational Challenges and Climate Justice offers a way to circumvent the problems of non-identity and non-existence by meeting three necessary criteria: providing ways to cope with uncertainty, dealing with the complexity of climate change, and including future people for their own sake. This book will be of great interest to academics and students concerned with climate and intergenerational justice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 142 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Climate change presents complex challenges that require a multifaceted approach to address. One of the critical aspects of this issue is the concept of intergenerational justice, which involves the responsibility of current generations to protect and preserve the environment for future generations. While the concept of intergenerational justice is widely accepted, determining the extent of our obligations to future generations can be challenging.

In her book, "Intergenerational Challenges and Climate Justice," Livia Ester Luzzatto offers a novel argument that justifies the obligations of present generations to future people. Luzzatto argues that our actions today have consequences for future generations, and we have a responsibility to consider the impact of our decisions on those generations.

One of the key insights of Luzzatto's book is that we have intergenerational obligations because many of our actions are based on presuppositions about future people. For example, when we make decisions about resource allocation, energy consumption, and environmental protection, we are making assumptions about the needs and desires of future generations. These assumptions can shape our actions and decisions, and they can have significant consequences for the well-being of future generations.

To address the challenges of intergenerational justice, Luzzatto proposes an approach that meets three necessary criteria. Firstly, the approach must provide ways to cope with uncertainty, as climate change is characterized by a high degree of uncertainty. Secondly, the approach must deal with the complexity of climate change, which involves a range of social, economic, and environmental factors. Thirdly, the approach must include future people for their own sake, rather than solely as a means to an end.

Luzzatto achieves these criteria by adopting an action-centred methodology that grounds our obligations of justice on the presuppositions of activity. This approach recognizes that our actions have consequences for future generations, and it emphasizes the importance of taking proactive measures to address climate change. By adopting an action-centred approach, Luzzatto argues that we can justify increased climate action and the greater inclusion of future-oriented policies in current decision-making.

The book "Intergenerational Challenges and Climate Justice" will be of great interest to academics and students concerned with the issues of climate and intergenerational justice. It provides a robust framework for understanding the complexities of climate change and the responsibilities of present and future generations. The book offers valuable insights into the challenges of intergenerational justice and provides practical solutions for addressing these challenges.

In conclusion, climate change poses complex challenges that require a multifaceted approach to address. The concept of intergenerational justice is critical in shaping our response to these challenges, and Livia Ester Luzzatto's book offers a novel argument that justifies the obligations of present generations to future people. By adopting an action-centred methodology that grounds our obligations of justice on the presuppositions of activity, Luzzatto provides a robust framework for addressing the challenges of intergenerational justice and justifying increased climate action. This book will be of great interest to academics and students concerned with the issues of climate and intergenerational justice.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032193793