Notes on James Garvey, “Climate Change and Moral Outrage” This article is available at James Garvey’s website: press.com/ See also Garvey’s book, The Ethics of Climate Change: Right and Wrong in a Warming World (New York: Bloomsbury, 2008): he-epz-ethics-of-climate- change /

The Scientific Evidence for Human-Caused Climate Change

James Garvey on the Ethics of Climate Change

An Outline of Garvey’s Essay 1.Garvey’s Thesis 2.Three problems with the ethics of climate change: simple vs. dispersed causes intergenerational agency it annoys people 3.Three Moral Arguments

Garvey’s Thesis “The point of these reflections is to get past entrenched thoughts which stand in the way of thinking about the ethics of climate change, of seeing our moral connection to the environment with the right kind of clarity. The thoughts have to do with the belief that our little effects cannot matter all that much—so why bother changing them?” (p. 13).

Argument 1: “You Broke It—You Fix It!” 1.People should contribute to fixing something in proportion to their responsibility for breaking it. 2.The developed nations have “broken” the earth’s climate system. 3.Therefore, the developed nations owe it to the rest of the world to fix the problem with the earth’s climate system.

Argument 2: “Able but Unwilling” 1.The greater the ability to do what is right, the greater the obligation to do what is right. 2.The developed nations have a greater ability to take action on climate change. 3.Therefore, the developed nations have a greater obligation to take action on climate change.

Argument 3: “From We to I” 1.If we in the West are wrong to do nothing to stop uncontrolled climate change, even though we can, then I as an individual am also wrong to do nothing—especially if I can. 2.But we in the West are doing nothing to stop uncontrolled climate change, even though we can. 3.Therefore, I as an individual am also wrong to do nothing—especially if I can.

What Can Be Done about Climate Change: Powering the Planet