Humanity is at the throes of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution
and biodiversity loss. Along with the planetary crisis, is the crisis of ethics that has
degraded the elements of morality that validate our humanity. The ongoing frenzy
of global conversations on climate change, through the structures provided by the
Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA), offers a formidable platform for
reflection on our actions, through the lens of environmental sociology and justice.
However, the MEA process is susceptible to global geopolitics and power imbalance
within the international system. A remedial action for this shortcoming should
constitute of developing an ethical framework to guide MEA negotiations. This
would insulate the process against parochial interests and promote consensus based
on humanity’s shared values. An ethics approach to climate crisis reflects on both
empirical and normative aspects of human action. According to available data on the
causes of climate change and solutions therein, it is clear that we need to review our
ethical standards in tandem with living sustainably with our environment.
Ethical problem
Climate crisis is an ethical problem. It is a moral problem. It is a human problem. The
MEA process should guide humanity on corrective and preventive social action
founded on conscience and environmental consciousness, rationalized by virtue and
positive human values.
Global ethical program
MEA should aim at creating an enduring ethical program procedural to the universal
values of justice and protection of vulnerable people and nature. Enshrined in the
ethical program will be compassion and equal treatment of people, regardless of
their background, nationalities, culture, religion, ethnicity, race, social class, etc. Most
importantly, the ethical program should promote sustainable coexistence between
man and environment, – and the embracement of nature and diversity.
Ethics
Ethics sustains a harmonious and empathetic relationship between man and nature
based on right action, informed by intellect and compassion. Arthur Schopenhauer,
philosophized that “compassion is the basis for all morality”. Ethics is foundational
to socio-environmental justice, weighs our morality, and provides a basis for
reviewing and correcting our behavior according to the validity of our pronounced
norms and values,-which norms and values are under constant review, based on our
ever evolving realities. By adopting appropriate ethical standards, Climate Actors will
be propelled to embrace our shared humanity and common destiny, devoid of
cultural, ethnic or religious prejudices. Ethical principles makes us exercise
reasonable judgment in dealing with opposing interests in the fight against climate
change.
Ethical dilemmas
The ethical program should guide people in resolving ethical dilemmas, especially
where climate goals come into conflict with commercial interests and other
opposing realities.The ethical program should protect the public from harmful
environmental choices and practices, entrench individual self-discipline, catalyze
positive social behavior change, and promote ethical responsibility and informed
cultural civilization, rather than governmental control and legal instruments ,-as the
key drivers of climate goals and sustainable living.