Energy Ethics: Issues and Guides Joseph R. Herkert Lincoln Associate Professor of Ethics and Technology SLS & CSPO

The rules and ideals for human behavior. They tell us what we ought to do. Wujek and Johnson 1992 What is Ethics?

Microethics and Macroethics in Engineering Microethics is concerned with ethical decision making by individuals and the internal relations of the engineering profession. Macroethics refers to the collective social responsibility of the engineering profession and to societal decisions about technology.

Some Micro and Macro Issues in Science and Engineering Ethics ScientificResearchEngineeringPractice Microethics Integrity of Data Fair Credit Health & Safety Bribes & Gifts Macroethics Human Cloning Dual-use Technology Sustainable Development Autonomous Robots

What is an ethical issue? An issue that involves a conflict of interests or values of different individuals or organizations. Genetics Education Partnership When there's a conflict between two or more parties where one is benefiting at the expense of another. Philosophical Dialogues

Moral Issues In Risk Assessment Overlapping of political or normative judgments with scientific judgmentsOverlapping of political or normative judgments with scientific judgments Manipulation of risk assessments to legitimize risky technologiesManipulation of risk assessments to legitimize risky technologies "Value of life""Value of life" Imposition of risks upon others, particularly those less empoweredImposition of risks upon others, particularly those less empowered Distribution of risks and consequences across geopolitical, cultural, or generational boundariesDistribution of risks and consequences across geopolitical, cultural, or generational boundaries Source: Herkert 1994

Climate Change and Ethics  Scientific Uncertainty (Red Herring) “…the really vital issue does not concern the presence of scientific uncertainty, but rather how we decide what to do under such circumstances.”  Economics Social discount rate Some costs and benefits not accounted for Adaptation vs. Abatement  Risk Management/Precautionary Principle Harm to Future Generations  Responsibility for Past Emissions  Allocating Future Emissions  Global (In)Action International Justice Intergenerational Justice Gardiner 2004

Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Ethical Issues

Utilitarianism “Greatest good for the greatest number” Focus is on Consequences Problems: What is “good”? Does not necessarily consider distribution of “good” Does not necessarily consider distribution of “good”

Duty Ethics Based on duties or obligations regardless of consequences Kant: Do not treat people as merely a means to an end Often regarded as flip side of “Rights Ethics” (together sometimes called “Respect for Persons”) Problem: What to do when duties conflict?

Guides for Ethical Conduct and Decision-making Codes of Ethics Statements of Principles Statements of Principles

Engineering Codes: Paramountcy Clause ASME Code of Ethics of Engineers (2006) Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties. AIChE Code of Ethics (2003) Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and protect the environment in performance of their professional duties. ASCE Code of Ethics (2006) Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their professional duties. IEEE Code of Ethics (2006) …to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment… …to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment…

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 25 (1) : Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

Energy Codes of Ethics Association of Energy Engineers Code of Ethics for Energy Engineers and Managers (2012) Solar Energy Industries Association Code of Ethics (2010) Code of Ethics (2010)

Nuffield Council on Bioethics (2011) A number of overlapping moral values form the basis of an ethical framework that can inform society‘s approach towards biofuels. These are: rights and global justice; solidarity and the common good; stewardship, sustainability and intergenerational equity.

Nuffield Principles (2011) i. Biofuels development should not be at the expense of people‘s essential rights (including access to sufficient food and water, health rights, work rights and land entitlements). ii. Biofuels should be environmentally sustainable. iii. Biofuels should contribute to a net reduction of total greenhouse gas emissions and not exacerbate global climate change. iv. Biofuels should develop in accordance with trade principles that are fair and recognise the rights of people to just reward (including labour rights and intellectual property rights). v. Costs and benefits of biofuels should be distributed in an equitable way. vi. If the first five Principles are respected and if biofuels can play a crucial role in mitigating dangerous climate change then, depending on additional key considerations, there is a duty to develop such biofuels.

Modified Nuffield Principles Modified Nuffield Principles i. Energy development should not be at the expense of people‘s essential rights (including access to sufficient food and water, health rights, work rights and land entitlements). ii. Energy development should be environmentally sustainable. iii. Energy development should contribute to a net reduction of total greenhouse gas emissions and not exacerbate global climate change. iv. Energy should be developed in accordance with trade principles that are fair and recognise the rights of people to just reward (including labour rights and intellectual property rights). v. Costs and benefits of energy development should be distributed in an equitable way. vi. If the first five Principles are respected then, depending on additional key considerations, there is a duty to develop energy.

Perrow: Normal Accidents  System components: Design, Equipment, Procedures, Operators, Supplies & Materials, and Environment (DEPOSE)  Systems characterized by their degree of complexity and coupling System interactions can be described on a continuum from linear to complexSystem interactions can be described on a continuum from linear to complex System coupling can be described on a continuum from loose to tightSystem coupling can be described on a continuum from loose to tight  “System accident" (aka "normal accident"): an "unanticipated interaction of multiple failures"  Systems that are both highly complex and tightly coupled are prone to system accidents. "Complex interactions" in the system make it difficult for the operators to understand what is going on during an accident; "tight coupling" makes it difficult to recover from failures since they tend to accumulate very quickly.

Interactions & Coupling