Non-Ideal Theory in Climate Agreements

My research explores climate justice and non-ideal theory. Using Laura Valentini’s conception of non-ideal theory, this is applied to the distribution of climate mitigation obligations, with a particular focus on the common but differentiated responsibilities of developed and developing countries. I...

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Main Author: Ushana Jayasuriya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2018-12-01
Series:Ethic@: an International Journal for Moral Philosophy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/ethic/article/view/57956
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author Ushana Jayasuriya
author_facet Ushana Jayasuriya
author_sort Ushana Jayasuriya
collection DOAJ
description My research explores climate justice and non-ideal theory. Using Laura Valentini’s conception of non-ideal theory, this is applied to the distribution of climate mitigation obligations, with a particular focus on the common but differentiated responsibilities of developed and developing countries. I wish to evaluate this distribution of obligations and determine whether it is an effective method of climate change mitigation, with consideration to non-ideal elements of partial or non-compliance. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges faced by the international community, and it is a problem that requires collective action. However, due to ineffective international agreements and a lack of willingness to alter lifestyles, this action is often not achieved. Agreements commonly result in targets that are not sufficient to exact the change required, instead representing only the states’ willingness to mitigate the destructive aspects of climate change while maintaining economic growth. I suggest that a shift in focus is required to obtain relevant and effective agreements that will reach the required targets. I propose that an Ability to Pay approach and a turn to investment incentives may result in more favourable outcomes. Recent climate agreements have focused more on the investment in clean energy and sharing of resources, however, I argue that this needs to be taken further in order to achieve the collective goal of mitigating climate change.
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spelling doaj.art-ea024979036a4c34b4f3056125045f372022-12-21T23:28:08ZengUniversidade Federal de Santa CatarinaEthic@: an International Journal for Moral Philosophy1677-29542018-12-0117346148410.5007/1677-2954.2018v17n3p46132524Non-Ideal Theory in Climate AgreementsUshana Jayasuriya0Victoria University of Wellington, New ZealandMy research explores climate justice and non-ideal theory. Using Laura Valentini’s conception of non-ideal theory, this is applied to the distribution of climate mitigation obligations, with a particular focus on the common but differentiated responsibilities of developed and developing countries. I wish to evaluate this distribution of obligations and determine whether it is an effective method of climate change mitigation, with consideration to non-ideal elements of partial or non-compliance. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges faced by the international community, and it is a problem that requires collective action. However, due to ineffective international agreements and a lack of willingness to alter lifestyles, this action is often not achieved. Agreements commonly result in targets that are not sufficient to exact the change required, instead representing only the states’ willingness to mitigate the destructive aspects of climate change while maintaining economic growth. I suggest that a shift in focus is required to obtain relevant and effective agreements that will reach the required targets. I propose that an Ability to Pay approach and a turn to investment incentives may result in more favourable outcomes. Recent climate agreements have focused more on the investment in clean energy and sharing of resources, however, I argue that this needs to be taken further in order to achieve the collective goal of mitigating climate change.https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/ethic/article/view/57956non-ideal theoryclimate justiceobligationsdevelopmentinnovation
spellingShingle Ushana Jayasuriya
Non-Ideal Theory in Climate Agreements
Ethic@: an International Journal for Moral Philosophy
non-ideal theory
climate justice
obligations
development
innovation
title Non-Ideal Theory in Climate Agreements
title_full Non-Ideal Theory in Climate Agreements
title_fullStr Non-Ideal Theory in Climate Agreements
title_full_unstemmed Non-Ideal Theory in Climate Agreements
title_short Non-Ideal Theory in Climate Agreements
title_sort non ideal theory in climate agreements
topic non-ideal theory
climate justice
obligations
development
innovation
url https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/ethic/article/view/57956
work_keys_str_mv AT ushanajayasuriya nonidealtheoryinclimateagreements