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Climate change and ethics

Nature Climate Change volume 2, pages 843–848 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

What does it matter if the climate changes? This kind of question does not admit of a scientific answer. Natural science can tell us what some of its biophysical effects are likely to be; social scientists can estimate what consequences such effects could have for human lives and livelihoods. But how should we respond? The question is, at root, about how we think we should live—and different people have myriad different ideas about this. The distinctive task of ethics is to bring some clarity and order to these ideas.

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  1. Politics and International Relations, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, 4.09 Chrystal Macmillan Building, 15a George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD, UK

    Tim Hayward

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Correspondence to Tim Hayward.

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Hayward, T. Climate change and ethics. Nature Clim Change 2, 843–848 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1615

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