Abstract
Notwithstanding the political debates in the media, climate change presents a unique set of ethical challenges faced by all the planet’s inhabitants. To understand the current challenges facing humanity, it is important to retrace the evolution of human society as this underlies the ethical foundations that internalize a group’s beliefs and norms. Humans have modified the environment on a global scale that is unsustainable that has resulted in climate change-a disease process with dire implications. Understanding the root causes of a disease process is the best means of devising a treatment plan. Climate change solutions must be syntonic with a biopsychosocial model that addresses culture and belief systems. The six main ethical theories-utilitarianism, egoism, deontology, virtue, divine command, and relativism all have their inherent flaws. Beauchamp and Childress concatenated these constructs into the four main bioethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-malfeasance, and justice. Of these, autonomy is least applicable to climate change as decisions made by a subgroup of one species will have an impact on all terrestrial lifeforms both present and future. Humanity must accept the reality of climate change and effect solutions based on these four principles. Failure to act will lead to catastrophic climate changes that may lead to the sixth mass extinction. Effective climate change solutions must embrace an integrative approach by supporting leaders who will embrace science and will advocate for universal human rights.
Highlights
“Global warming” and “climate change” are not synonymous as global warming refers to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature whereas climate change describes the downstream impact of a global temperature increase [1]
Climate change induced by global warming may seem complex initially as it involves an understanding of chemistry and physics, the laws of thermodynamics
Unless drastic action is taken, the earth will experience catastrophic climatic and negative socioeconomic changes within the 30 years [13]. This author further stated that a solution requires “political change producing policy change” [14]. If such changes are to be realized, an understanding of the science underlying climate change must be understood within the framework of human evolution, the rise of political systems and the ethics that arose from these political developments
Summary
“Global warming” and “climate change” are not synonymous as global warming refers to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature whereas climate change describes the downstream impact of a global temperature increase [1]. It should be stated that weather and climate are not synonymous as weather refers to short term atmospheric fluctuations whereas climate refers to what can be expected over a longer-term period. In this context, an occasional 90 °F or 32 °C summer day in Fairbanks, Alaska would not be an unusual event for its weather whereas 30 consecutive days at this temperature in the autumn might portend climate change. Problem solving requires several steps including identification that a problem exists, discerning the facts, framing the problem, and proposing solutions. With respect to climate change, there is no universal agreement that a problem exists.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
