Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Climate Change Ethics:

Turn Up the Volume

Many of the participants in the side event entitled ‘The Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change’ were youth. As a young person, I long to hear fresh perspectives on global crises, to hear world ills voiced with the kind of passion that lets me know the presenter feels individually responsible for their remedy, and to be given the opportunity to collaborate with people of all ages and backgrounds as we create a more peaceful, sustainable, and prosperous future for everybody. All of these hopes were met at the side event hosted by the Baha'i International Community and the Rock Ethics Institute of PA State University Monday evening.

By: Alicia Cundall, CSD Youth Caucus

A Fresh Perspective

Human impact on the global climate has been a topic of discussion since 1988. But, as panelists explained, the discourse rarely addresses the ethical questions behind this issue. In fact, ethical dimensions are hidden in current scientific and economic arguments. Panelist Donald Brown of Penn State University urged us to "turn up the volume on the ethical dimensions of this issue" in order to help policy-makers find sustainable solutions.

But what is meant by these "ethical dimensions"? Simply put, ethical dimensions are those questions— rarely asked— that should provide the framework for any type of discussion or action to better world issues. They are fact-sensitive questions of equity, justice, and moral responsibility that have short and long-term implications for every member of the human race.

Concerning the climate issue, panelists raised specific ethical questions. Stephen Connor of Columbia University called us to examine the relationship between wealthy countries and those that will be most affected. Africa contributes only 4% of climate change emissions, he said, yet 10-15 million African children die every year due to climate-related issues such as drought. Does Africa have the right to compensation? To access a cleaner, healthier atmosphere for her people?

Among questions asked by Mr. Brown were: Who should help disadvantaged countries adapt to reasonably foreseeable harms? Why do governments continue to make decisions securing personal or national interests at the expense of the interests of the global community?

Individual Responsibility: Bringing the Global Home

Panelists spoke with passion. From the tenor of their voices, their sincere expressions of concern about the topics they addressed, and stories of individual experience, it was clear that they felt individually responsible to the rest of humanity—present and future—to create meaningful change.

Dr Dwight W. Allen expressed with outrage in his voice that, in China, the number of households involved in agriculture is expected to decrease from 750 million to 250 million in just five years due to the dominance of large corporations. Dr Allen is an eminent professor currently teaching at Old Dominion University and a visiting professor in three institutions of higher learning in China.

Modest Johnathan Mero, Minister Plenipotentiary Permanent Mission of Tanzania to the UN, addressed primarily climate change effects observed in his home country of Tanzania. Among the effects spoken of included rising temperatures, melting glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro (scientific estimates predict the glaciers will have disappeared by 2025), and an increase in malaria prevalence. Mr Mero emphasized the profound impact on rural communities.  

When closing the discussion, moderator Ms Bani Dugal invited participants to consider individual plans to reduce one's negative impact on the global climate. We can all develop the passion, backed by reasoning, and translated into action demonstrated by the panelists. One audience-member suggested helping individuals to calculate their carbon footprint and compare the footprints of their countries to others.

Youth Actively Engaged

Members of the youth caucus from South Africa, Sweden, Ethiopia, and the US participated in the question and answer period of the event. Youth members were pleased that the event incorporated thirty minutes to engaging the audience in discussion. Lauren Nutter, an experienced youth caucus member, said "youth value the opportunity to engage in side-event discussions and appreciate when an adequate amount of time is allotted to engage in depth."

Vicnan K Pannirselvan, a youth caucus member who works in the media industry in Singapore, was struck by Mr Browne's comments on the need to call media attention to the ethical aspects of global issues. "The presentation inspired me to continue with my work and also to re-think it." Vicnan entered the traditional media system in his country to engage youth in world issues.

"It was good to see that the majority of speakers in the after-presentation dialogue were youth. I think we were so engaged because the discussion emphasized moral implications of the human impact on the environment. As youth we are bombarded by facts. But when we start talking about ethical obligations that gets us moving."

As was eloquently stated by Selene Biffi in Monday’s Outreach Issues, "all over the world…there are scores of young people responding to the development challenges of their communities." Young people can help turn up the volume of discourse on the ethical dimensions of climate change. Members of the youth caucus are grateful that CSD is a UN processes that invites the participation of youth in such critical issues.