Civic Republicanism, Place, Stability, and Climate Change: The Case for Mitigation (Previously Titled, Republican Virtue and Stability in an Era of Climate Disruption)

Abstract

This paper makes a normative case for a continued focus on mitigation of climate change rather than a shift to a primary focus on adaptation. The paper argues that climate stability plays an important political role in enabling a key common good, place, and consequently, enabling a robust, civic republican conception of self-government. The discussion initially develops the concept of place and outlines civic republicanism and the importance of stability in republican thought. The paper then shows how place as a common good plays a key role in civic republican politics, and brings in capability theory to highlight the impact of climate instability on place and other republican values. Finally, the paper considers what a civic republican political approach to climate change might look like.