Climate Justice

Climate change is arguably the great problem confronting humanity today, but we have done little to avoid this looming catastrophe. It presents significant policy and ethical dilemmas: When confronted with global warming, might we reach an optimal decision in which all human beings are equal, rational, or perfectly governed? How do we balance the rights and responsibilities of the developed and developing world? Is it fair for our generation to exploit the future by taking modest benefits while passing on potentially catastrophic costs? Or, instead of engaging in inaction or self-deception when the basic fabric of life on the planet is at stake, how do we wake up from this nightmare and demand more of our institutions (public and private), our leaders, and ourselves?

In this class, we use “case-in-point” learning to focus on how problems are seen; on how the power to act is legitimized and exercised; on how purposes and ultimate ends are balanced; and on which actions are taken and why.