Humanity's future: climate change and the need for intergenerational justice

• Main Author: Lim, Shu Min
• Other Authors: Lim Chong Ming
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Humanities::Philosophy
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/165410
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In this paper, I show that intergenerational justice is the solution to the issue of climate change when taken seriously, backed by the necessity for mankind to have a future. I argue that incorporating intergenerational justice into climate change mitigation strategies will lead to impactful and necessary climate action, by eliminating the leeway given for economic development as with current policies. I argue that when threatened by the effects of climate change, we have reasons to care about both existing and future persons’ well-being. By recognizing the importance of having a future for humanity and the need to ensure it flourishes, future generations are the key to doing so. As such, upholding intergenerational justice ensures the protection of future persons’ interests and well-being, while providing a sufficient motivating reason to eliminate climate change for mankind’s survival and future. I look at a common obstacle to the advancement of intergenerational justice: the non-identity problem. In response, I introduce and elaborate on Lukas Meyer’s subjunctive notion of harm to exemplify that the non-identity problem does not affect it. We can use it as a guide for our actions with regard to protecting future persons’ rights and interests.