The Cost of Climate Change

Dec 18, 2009

This short clip on ethics asks: Is climate change a common public burden, or should individuals make their own choices? Globally do modernized countries have an obligation to developing countries?

Assume that climate change is real, but what about the costs? Correcting the problems is expensive.

There are two sets of costs. New costs come from new technologies and processes. Renewable energy requires subsidizes until economies of scale can bring down price. Buildings need to become green, but owners can't afford refitting. Transportation networks must become efficient and clean. Et cetera.

These are the social costs of moving to a new paradigm. Within societies, they involve difficult and necessary ethical choices regarding taxes, markets, winners, and losers.

A second set of costs relates to global fairness.

The developed world wants to retain a life style, which evolved under energy abundance and without climate constraints. America's great Eastern forests were cut for farmland. European and Japanese industrial plants covered the sky with smoke and soot. The dream was one car, then two, in every household.

Today Brazilians want land for crops. Indians want to industrialize. Chinese dream of cars. Zambians need food.

The developing world sees a dramatic disadvantage. They have to industrialize and modernize, and they have to absorb the new social costs, doubling demands.

Industrial countries provide some aid, but the third world wants more.

So, the new paradigm brings new costs to each society and costs regarding global fairness.

What do you think? In each society is climate change a common public burden, or should individuals make their own choices? Globally do modernized countries have an obligation? Who bears the cost of climate change?

By William Vocke

You may also like

AUG 2, 2022 Journal

Ethics & International Affairs Volume 36.2 (Summer 2022)

The editors of Ethics & International Affairs are pleased to present the Summer 2022 issue of the journal! The highlight of this issue is a roundtable organized ...

Left to right: Zhanna Malekos Smith, Mai'a Cross, Diane Howard, Ann C Thresher. CREDIT: Noha Mahmoud.

APR 4, 2025 Video

Unlocking Cooperation: Space Diplomacy

In this event, Northeastern University’s Ethics Institute partnered with Carnegie Council to host a convening on the future of international space governance, security, & sustainability.

MAR 18, 2025 Podcast

Small States, Mutual Respect, and the Future of the International System, with Ambassador Ali Naseer Mohamed

Ambassador Ali Naseer Mohamed, permanent representative of the Maldives to the UN, discusses the vital role of small states at this critical global moment.

Not translated

This content has not yet been translated into your language. You can request a translation by clicking the button below.

Request Translation