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Climate Change, Consumption and Intergenerational Justice


Synopsis


The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development makes climate change and responsible consumption key priorities for both industrialized and emerging economies. Moving beyond the Global North, this book uses innovative cross-national and cross-generational research with urban residents in China and Uganda, as well as the UK, to illuminate international debates about building sustainable societies and to examine how different cultures think about past, present and future responsibility for climate change. The authors explore to what extent different nations see climate change as a domestic issue, whilst looking at local explanatory and blame narratives to consider profound questions of justice between those nations that are more and less responsible for, and vulnerable to, climate change.

Kristina Diprose, Gill Valentine, Robert M. Vanderbeck, Chen Liu, Katie McQuaid

Summary

Chapter 1: Introduction

* Summary: Sets the stage for the book by highlighting the urgency of climate change and its implications for intergenerational justice.
* Example: The book uses the example of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans to demonstrate how climate-related disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including future generations.

Chapter 2: The Science of Climate Change

* Summary: Provides a scientific overview of climate change, including its causes, impacts, and projections.
* Example: The book cites the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to illustrate the scientific consensus on climate change and its potential consequences.

Chapter 3: Climate Change and Consumption

* Summary: Explores the relationship between climate change and consumption, examining how our lifestyles and economic systems contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
* Example: The book uses the example of the transportation sector, highlighting the impact of car dependency on carbon emissions and the need for sustainable alternatives.

Chapter 4: Intergenerational Justice and Climate Change

* Summary: Discusses the ethical implications of climate change for future generations, arguing that we have a moral obligation to protect their interests.
* Example: The book cites the concept of "temporal discounting," which refers to our tendency to value present benefits more highly than future benefits, and how this discounting undermines intergenerational justice.

Chapter 5: Policy Responses to Climate Change

* Summary: Examines policy options for addressing climate change, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating its impacts.
* Example: The book discusses the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, and carbon pricing as examples of international and national efforts to combat climate change.

Chapter 6: Climate Justice and Sustainable Consumption

* Summary: Explores the concept of climate justice, which recognizes the disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalized communities and advocates for equitable solutions.
* Example: The book highlights the work of grassroots movements and non-governmental organizations that are promoting sustainable consumption and empowering vulnerable populations.

Chapter 7: Conclusion

* Summary: Summarizes the key arguments and findings of the book, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address climate change and ensure intergenerational justice.
* Example: The book concludes by calling for a transformation of our economic and social systems towards sustainability, highlighting the importance of intergenerational cooperation and responsible consumption.