Ethical Aspects of Climate Engineering

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https://books.openedition.org/ksp/1780Author(s)
Betz, Gregor
Cacean, Sebastian
Language
EnglishAbstract
This study investigates the ethical aspects of deploying and researching into so-called climate engineering methods, i.e. large-scale technical interventions in the climate system with the objective of offsetting anthropogenic climate change. The moral reasons in favour of and against R&D into and deployment of CE methods are analysed by means of argument maps. These argument maps provide an overview of the CE controversy and help to structure the complex debate. Arguments covered in this analysis include: The central justification of R&D; side-effects of R&D and of deployment; lesser-evil argumentation; two-degree target argumentation; efficiency and feasibility considerations; arguments from ethics of risk; arguments from fairness; geo-political objections; critique of technology and civilization; religious, existentialist, and environmental-ethics arguments; alternative justifications of R&D; lack of R&D alternatives; direct justifications of R&D prohibition; priority of mitigation policies.
Keywords
climate engineering; geoengineering; climate ethics; argument mapISBN
9782821874343, 9783866448568Publisher
KIT Scientific PublishingPublisher website
http://www.ksp.kit.edu/Publication date and place
Karlsruhe, 2012Series
KIT Scientific Publishing,Classification
Conservation of the environment