The climate justice research stream focuses on the moral and political dimensions of responding to climate change.
Research within this stream covers several key areas, including:
This project aims to provide a rigorous ethical framework for dividing the world’s remaining ‘carbon budget’ (CB). In order to avoid dangerous climate change the world must drastically limit its emissions of greenhouse gases. The project will develop a new analysis of how our assumptions concerning risk and harm shape conception of the CB.
Mining activity accounts for a large percentage of Australia’s economic activity. The export of coal and gas are particularly significant. Yet, in order to avoid dangerous climate change we need to limit the amount of CO2-e that is released into the atmosphere to keep temperature rises to less than 2C. This research focuses on the ethical issues that arise for fossil fuel exporters and the states in which they operate.
Climate justice is especially important with regard to the policies we adopt to transition to a low carbon society. All transitions will inevitably create winners and losers and part of achieving a just transition is ensuring that benefits are distributed in the right way between groups within and between societies.
This research also includes a focus on general issues in egalitarian political philosophy including capabilities and equality: legitimate and justified?
The responsibility stream focuses on the preconditions for responsibility. Responsibility, broadly understood, is the capacity to exercise willpower, self-control, rationality, moral agency, and resilience. These capabilities enable us to pursue our goals, contribute to our communities, and be effective global citizens. We therefore have an interest in pursuing and promoting them.
Subscribe to our mailing list to keep up to date with the latest news and events from the Practical Justice Initiative.
