Climate Justice: Ethics, Energy, and Public Policy

by James B. Martin-Schramm

Overview

Energy issues and climate change have loomed up from issues at the horizon to confront humanity directly and vitally. They are now pressing public-policy challenges of monumental scale and import. James Martin-Schramm draws on decades of involvement with ethics, public policy, and environmental ethics to provide this lucid and astute analysis of the problems and options for addressing energy and climate change.

Martin-Schramm argues that reliance on fossil fuels has produced grave threats to justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. Addressing these threats requires of Christians not simply new individual sensitivities and sacrifices but a new way of living in harmony with the earth and an earnest search for policy that fosters sustainability, reflects values of equity and fairness, and operates on a scale commensurate with the problems. Martin-Schramm proposes a full analysis of the problems and causes of our situation and real principles for an ethic of ecojustice. He also provides specific assessment of norms, policy options, and recommendations in the areas of energy and climate change and a glimpse of what a workable alternative might look like, globally and locally.

Martin-Schramm's work combines solid analysis with genuine commitment to effective policy, all driven by a Christian imperative to understand and tackle this deepest challenge to life itself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800663629
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	12/15/2009
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

James B. Martin-Schramm is Professor of Religion at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. As research chair in the Center for Ethics and Public Life, Martin-Schramm has authored policy studies and statements for several denominational and Non-governmental Organizations. He is author of Population Perils and the Churches Response (1997) and editor with Robert Stivers of Christian Environmental Ethics: A Case-Study Approach (2003).

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Abbreviations xxi

Introduction 1

Religious Understandings of Energy 1

Moral Challenges in Energy Use 3

Problems Related to Fossil Fuel Energy Sources 6

Global Warming and Climate Change 12

Conclusion 21

1 Ethical Resources 23

Justice and Environmental Issues 24

The Ethic of Ecological Justice 26

Energy Policy Guidelines 37

Guidelines for Ethical Assessment of Climate Policies 40

Conclusion 44

2 Conventional Energy Options 45

Conventional, Nonrenewable Energy Sources in the United States 47

Conclusion 69

3 Alternative and Renewable Energy Options 71

An Initial Ethical Assessment 75

Policy Recommendations 105

Conclusion 109

4 International Climate Policy 111

History of International Climate Policy 114

Ethical Assessment of Current International Climate Policy Negotiations 118

Climate Justice arid the Greenhouse Development Rights Framework 127

Key Aspects of the Greenhouse Development Rights Framework 129

Implementation of the Greenhouse Development Rights Framework 132

Conclusion 135

5 U.S. Climate Policy 137

Envisioning a Just Climate Policy for the United States 138

History of U.S. Climate Policy 141

American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 143

Prospects in the Senate and the Need for U.S. Leadership 156

Conclusion 158

6 Climate Justice Applied: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies at Luther College 161

Luther's GHG Reduction Strategies 164

Conclusion 179

Notes 181

Glossary 211

Index 219