Climate Change, Historical Emissions, and Unjust Benefits: A Comment on Axel Gosseries’ Account of Climate Justice

Duus-Otterström, Göran | 2024

Journal of Practical Ethics

Abstract

One of the claims Axel Gosseries makes in What is Intergenerational Justice? is that greenhouse gas emissions produced before 1990 are morally unimportant for present climate duties. This article challenges that claim by drawing on the idea that present people may have special duties to combat climate change in virtue of benefiting from past emissions.

Abstract

One of the claims Axel Gosseries makes in What is Intergenerational Justice? is that greenhouse gas emissions produced before 1990 are morally unimportant for present climate duties. This article challenges that claim by drawing on the idea that present people may have special duties to combat climate change in virtue of benefiting from past emissions.