Common concern for the global ecological commons: solidarity with future generations?
| DOI | 10.1177/00471178211036218 |
| Published date | 01 September 2021 |
| Date | 01 September 2021 |
| Author | Marianne Takle |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/00471178211036218
International Relations
2021, Vol. 35(3) 403 –421
© The Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/00471178211036218
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Common concern for the
global ecological commons:
solidarity with future
generations?
Marianne Takle
OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University
Abstract
This article elaborates on ideas concerning future generations and whether they are useful in
understanding some aspects of the concern for the global ecological commons. The article’s
main scholarly contribution is to develop analytical tools for examining what a concern for future
generations would require of current generations. It combines the scholarly literature on future
generations with that of solidarity. The ideas concerning future generations are interpreted in
terms of an ideal typical concept of solidarity with future generations. This concept is divided
into four dimensions: the foundation of solidarity, the objective of solidarity, the boundaries
of solidarity and the collective orientation. By applying these four dimensions in the context
of the political process leading to Agenda 2030, the potentials and limitations of the concept
are evident. The article concludes that the absence of reciprocity between current and future
generations and uncertainty about the future are both crucial issues, which cut across the four
dimensions. We cannot expect anything from people who have not yet been born, and we
do not know what preferences they will have. This shows the vulnerability of forward-looking
appeals to solidarity with future generations. Nevertheless, such appeals to solidarity may give
global political processes a normative content and direction and can thereby contribute to
understanding common concerns for the global ecological commons.
Keywords
agenda 2030, environment, future, future generations, global ecological commons,
intergenerational justice, solidarity, Sustainable Development Goals, sustainability, time
Corresponding author:
Marianne Takle, NOVA Norwegian Social Research, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University,
Stensberggata 26, Oslo 0170, Norway.
Email: mtakle@oslomet.no
1036218IRE0010.1177/00471178211036218International RelationsTakle
research-article2021
Article
404 International Relations 35(3)
Introduction
Since the early 1970s, there has been an increasing recognition of the finite nature of the
planet’s natural environment including the atmosphere, the ozone layer, the global sys-
tem cycles, the climate system, as well as genetic and species diversity. These physical
resources do not belong to any state and are not subject to state sovereignty. They are
global ecological commons that all states and non-state actors can potentially exploit. As
such, the natural environment is increasingly understood as the world’s common heritage
for current and future generations.1
However, the global commons represent a problem for collective action, and any
attempt to develop environmental cooperation can easily lead to the logic of the tragedy
of the commons.2 While in theory free riding and non-cooperation should be rife, the
global commons have, at least until today, been characterized by peaceful interactions
and cooperation.3 One way of explaining international cooperation concerning global
environmental challenges is to emphasize that states retain their capacities and power by
developing regimes.4 No single state has sole power to protect itself from climate change.
One way of monitoring progress towards safeguarding the global ecological commons is
to pressure states to live up to their promises, and cooperation relies on states’ voluntary
pledges and actions.5 Moreover, in terms of a constructivist international relations
approach, ideas shape the social interaction of international actors and their identities and
interests.6
This article elaborates on if and how ideas concerning future generations can be use-
ful to understand some aspects of the common concern for the global ecological com-
mons. As recognition of the finite status of the planet’s natural environment has become
more widespread, the concern for future generations has increasingly been included in
legislative and policy measures.7 But, what is meant by future generations? It often refers
to our children and grandchildren, perhaps also great-grandchildren, that is, to specific
descendants we can imagine. Future generations are also more abstract: they will be
born, but there remains uncertainty regarding who, where and when. They are people we
know nothing about beyond the fact that they will live in a world we leave behind. This
article defines future generations as all age cohorts that come after the living generations,
and this includes children as well as the unborn.8
Behind this increased political attention paid to our descendants is a concern about
highly problematic consequences if present generations leave irreversible environmental
damages to individuals who will be born in the future. Today’s generations have the
capacity to affect the future ecosystem more than any previous generations. While cli-
mate change is the current headline issue, biodiversity is also gaining increased impor-
tance.9 An increasing awareness of how present harm to the environment will have
adverse consequences for the quality of life in the future enhances the visibility and
importance of this issue.10 Scholarly literature has emphasized that any use of natural
resources needs to be assessed in relation to what is left to future generations, and that
the contemporary way of life in large parts of the world will lead to escalating global
environmental damage.11
The fields of economics, law, political science and political philosophy have explored
the concept of future generations. Scholars such as Caney, Gough, Lawrence, Page,
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