The Moral Dilemma of Climate Change

Climate change is extremely complex in nature. Although seemingly an environmental issue, it is just as much a social issue; hence its link to morality. Climate change can be seen as a moral issue because it directly threatens the livelihoods of people and future generations on a global level. In the future, without the implementation of preventative and responsive solutions, climate change will affect the living conditions of particularly vulnerable and economically unstable areas, such as developing nations. A lack in response to environmental threats such as climate change will result in poor living conditions as water and temperature levels rise: which may cause displacement, homelessness and will heighten the threat of disease and illness. Furthermore, sporadic rainfall and rapid oscillating temperatures (a few “symptoms” of climate change), can lead to limited crop availability; thus leading to further food insecurity in countries which are well below the poverty line at present.

A moral issue is one which involves the decision between right and wrong; guided by our human nature and natural instincts as emotional beings who have the capacity to make moral judgements that are fundamentally based on reason. Therefore, the most significant moral problem in terms of climate change is the need for adaptation. Communities will have to adapt to environmental changes and therefore adapt to an increase in food prices, housing prices and the remodelling of buildings to be more environmentally sustainable and weather-proof, to accommodate for the changing weather patterns and rising sea levels, whilst supporting the rapidly growing population.

Another significant moral implication of climate change and its impacts are climate refugees. Climate refugee is the term used to describes individuals who have been forced out of their place of residence due to climatic factors which render countries or cities not suitable for living. This can include impacts such as a rise in sea levels, the melting of glaciers and permafrost, the warming of tropical climates to temperatures higher than natural ranges, and others. The most common climate refugees at present originate from small, low-lying islands in the pacific and Indian Ocean, which have been forced to abandon their homes due to inundations from rising sea levels as a result of the oceanic waters expanding as they are heated. With more than half of the world’s population living within 60km of a coastline, this issue is a serious threat. This problem is further heightened by the fact that these countries have a low GDP and lack the resources to manage and prevent these implications and therefore must rely on foreign aid to assist them in adapting to new living conditions as a result of global warming. The ethical issue surrounding this is that the suffering and mass displacement of these people will most likely be as a result of global warming which has been induced by large, developed countries such as America and Australia, who are amongst the highest producers of carbon emissions per capita in the world. Powerful and developed countries often act as the main cause of climate change, however are the least likely to feel the effects of these damaging actions, while undeveloped countries suffer the consequences. The Maldives act as an example of this relationship. Whilst they are carbon neutral, minimising their polluting effect, their location as low-lying islands, means that rising sea levels will strongly affect them, resulting in major displacement and loss of livelihoods. In terms of our moral duty, those in developed countries who have political and economic power, should feel the personal and national responsibility to protect developing countries.

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