Climate Change and the Future of the Human Race

Climate change is one of the largest and most complex issues humanity has ever considered. In an article published by the BBC called “Climate change: What price will future generations pay?”, UNICEF ambassador Lord David Putnam argues that “climate change is not just an environmental problem, it is a human rights issue. In fact it’s the biggest child rights issue of our time”. Furthermore, he calls for “the rights of the child along with those of future generations to be acknowledged in the UN climate change negotiations” (Putnam, 2009). I agree wholeheartedly with Putnam’s position. Climate change is as much a moral issue as it is a scientific and economic one. Of particular concern is the plight of those who will inherit the earth from the current generation; what kind of world will they be left? Putnam’s comments relate directly to two closely related environmental principles studied during this course: the equity principle and the sustainability principle.

Equity implies fairness; thus, the equity principle holds that all people should be treated justly and fairly. This applies not only to those currently living, but also to those not yet born. There are, however, several objections to this sense of fairness, and it is the rebuttals to these objections that will solidify the concept of intergenerational equity. How can future generations have rights in the first place? At birth, people inherit the human rights we assign them. If rights are acquired at birth, how then can rights be granted to those not yet born? The answer is that they cannot, at least not individually. But if future generations are treated as a collective group (those people not yet born), then they are subject to collective rights – the very same rights which the living generations currently enjoy (Beder, 2006, p. 81). The cynic may still wonder, “Why should we care about our posterity? They are of no benefit to us.” The fact is that we are morally responsible for our actions, and for the well-being of our planet’s future inhabitants. Our society is producing greenhouse gases, and we know that they will cause harm in the future. Our knowledge gives us a moral responsibility to reduce our emissions in order to lessen the harmful effects of climate change, however far into the future they may be (Ibid, p. 82).

A final concern with the principle of equity towards future generations is that we have no way of predicting their wants, needs, and desires. This objection is no more than a cop-out, for while we do not know what future generations want, we can very well determine what they do not want: “We don’t know what the precise taste of our remote descendants will be, but they are unlikely to include a desire for...the inundation of low-lying areas as a result of the melting of the ice-caps” (Barry, 1999, quoted in Ibid, p. 83). It can now be seen that, as rights-bearing entities, we have a moral responsibility to ensure that future generations receive the fair treatment we extend to those currently living. Putnam is worried that we have neglected our responsibilities. “What price”, he asks, “[will] children have to pay for three or four carbon-happy generations?” (Putnam, 2009).

The only way to ensure equity for our children and for future generations is to abide by the sustainability principle and strive for sustainable development. In the past half-century, it has become increasingly apparent that the Earth’s resources are limited. Initially, the source of these “limits to growth” was seen as resource depletion due to rising human population. This view was since been replaced by resource depletion due to environmental degradation. Indeed, world population is predicted to stabilize within the next several decades, while pollution levels – despite international pledges to reduce emissions – continue to rise (Ibid, p. 16). The solution devised to preserve resources and protect environmental quality has been dubbed sustainable development. This practice is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Beder, 2006, p. 18). Unfortunately, most current economic practices fall short of this goal, using up too many resources and not leaving enough for future generations. Specifically, unless we curb our carbon emissions immediately, we risk dramatic and irreversible climate change, which Putnam describes as “a huge barrier to a fulfilling future” (Putnam, 2009). Unless we reign in our emissions, he claims, we will leave “an indelible mark upon the rights of the child” and all future generations (Ibid).

So, is anything being done to ensure that children and future generations receive equity and that economic development occurs sustainably for their benefit? Thankfully, yes. Many national and international treaties and laws now recognize environmental resources as a “common heritage of mankind”, and have taken measures to utilize them in a sustainable manner (Beder, 2006, p. 81). International climate agreements are making slow but steady progress towards reduced emissions and less drastic climate change, with the upcoming conference in Copenhagen being the most crucial so far. Putnam notes that youth delegates have been accepted to participate in the conference, which he believes to be a crucial first step in the current ruling generation’s realization of the opinions of the younger (Putnam, 2009). However, Putnam argues that more must be done. Specifically, climate change negotiations must focus on solutions for the long term, so that the needs of future generations will be met. While they may not be with us, they still matter greatly, and we should be mindful that they deserve to inherit just as beautiful a world as we did.

REFERENCES

Beder, Sharon. (2006). Environmental Principles and Policies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction. London: Earthscan Publishing.

Putnam, David. (2009). “Climate change: What price will future generations pay?”. British Broadcasting Corporation. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8374965.stm. Accessed 21 November 2009.