Atmospheric justice: a political theory of climate change

The politics of climate change mitigation -- Climate change, fairness, and equity -- Climate change and international justice -- Climate change and intergenerational justice -- Moral responsibility and greenhouse gas emissions -- Knowledge, beliefs, and responsibility -- Equity, responsibility, and climate change mitigation

Steve Vanderheiden points toward ways to achieve environmental justice by exploring how climate change raises issues of both international and intergenerational justice. In addition, he considers how the design of a global climate regime might take these aims into account

Steve Vanderheiden points toward ways to achieve environmental justice by exploring how climate change raises issues of both international and intergenerational justice. In addition, he considers how the design of a global climate regime might take these aims into account.

Atmospheric Justice is the first single-authored work of political theory to address the pressing issue of global climate change. More than just a work of theory, it applies the concepts of justice, equality, and responsibility to substantive analyses of contemporary environmental policy. So far, Steve Vanderheiden argues, we have failed to adequately define the basic political ideals that are driving our efforts to address this enormously complex transnational and trans-generational problem. Enlisting conceptual tools from political theory and philosophy, Atmospheric Justice posits the avoidance of injustice as the proper aim of global climate policy. Consequently, we need to consider how the collective lack of responsibility that is fueling unfettered climate change is increasing inequality and injustice. Ultimately, Vanderheiden's study makes an important step toward providing us with a set of carefully elaborated first principles for achieving both a sustainable global climate policy and-more broadly-environmental justice.