Book Review: Dominic Roser and Christian Seidel, Climate Justice: An Introduction
| Author | Iva Mihaylova |
| Published date | 01 February 2018 |
| Date | 01 February 2018 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1478929917723870 |
| Subject Matter | Book ReviewsGeneral Politics |
book-review2017
Book Review – General Politics
Political Studies Review
2018, Vol. 16(1) NP82
Book Review
journals.sagepub.com/home/psrev
Climate Justice: An Introduction by Dominic
moral question: ‘Assuming that we are
Roser and Christian Seidel. Abingdon:
obliged to take action against climate change,
Routledge, 2016. 240pp., £24.99 (p/b), ISBN
how shall we distribute these duties?’ Based
9781138845275
on theories of intergenerational distributive
justice, the authors analyse several principles
Climate Justice: An Introduction emphasises the
for the distribution of climate change mitiga-
increasingly prominent role of ethics between
tion, adaptation and compensation costs.
science and politics for addressing the heated
They conclude that three of these – grandfa-
debate of climate change as a moral challenge. It
thering, emissions egalitarianism and benefi-
offers resources for assessing climate policy
ciary pays – are not convincing, despite their
from the ethics perspective. The authors develop
initial plausibility. In contrast, the authors
arguments that answer three fundamental moral
reach the conclusion that principles such as
questions in the area of climate policy. Part I of
the polluter pays principle are well founded
the book, chapters 2–4, answers the first ques-
in the area of climate policy.
tion, ‘Do we have a duty to do anything at all in
The book is suitable for introductory
the face of climate change?’ (p. 4). Dominic
courses for students in political philosophy,
Roser and Christian Seidel strongly affirm the
environmental ethics and environmental eco-
duty to mitigate climate change and refute the
nomics, as well as for a broader circle of...
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