The link between justice and climate change is becoming increasingly prominent in public debates on climate policy. This clear and concise philosophical introduction to climate justice addresses the hot topic of climate change as a moral challenge.
Using engaging everyday examples the authors address the core arguments by providing a comprehensive and balanced overview of this heated debate, enabling students and practitioners to think critically about the subject area and to promote discussion on questions such as:
Why do anything in the face of climate change?
How much do we owe our descendants – a better world, or nothing at all?
How should we distribute the burden of climate action between industrialized and developing countries?
Should I adopt a green lifestyle even if no one else makes an effort ?
Which means of reducing emissions are permissible?
Should we put hope in technological solutions?
Should we re-design democratic institutions for more effective climate policy?
With chapter summaries, illustrative examples and suggestions for further reading, this book is an ideal introduction for students in political philosophy, applied ethics and environmental ethics, as well as for practitioners working on one of the most urgent issues of our time.

1 Climate change as an ethical challenge 1

PART I Do we need to do anything at all? Moral justification of the need to act 17

2 Three reasons for skepticism about the duty to mitigate climate change 19

3 Fundamental doubts about our responsibility for the future 31

4 Mitigation, adaptation, or climate engineering: do many roads lead to the desired goal? 43

PART II How much do we need to do? Intergenerational justice 55

5 Equality for our descendants 57

6 More for our descendants 65

7 Enough for our descendants 70

8 Uncertainty and the precautionary principle 75

9 Inequality and an interim conclusion 89

PART III How should we assign responsibility? Global justice 97

10 The greatest redistribution in human history 99

11 Grandfathering: to those who have, more shall be given 109

12 The ‘polluter pays' principle: taking responsibility for one's actions 118

13 The “beneficiary pays” principle: those who benefit must pay 130

14 The “ability-to-pay” principle: to each according to his or her means 140

15 Emissions egalitarianism: dividing up the cake equally 150

16 A far-reaching proposal 158

PART IV From ethical theory to political practice 167

17 Nonideal theory: what should we do when others fail to do their fair share? 169

18 Population, technology, and affluence: three strategies for reducing emissions 179

19 The market for emissions: a modern sale of indulgences? 193

20 Procedural justice: democracy in times of climate change 205

21 LookinS back and checking up with reality 217

Christian Seidel is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.

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