Climate Justice

by Martin-Schramm, James B.

• ISBN13: 9780800663629
• ISBN10: 0800663624
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-02-01
• Publisher: Fortress Pr

Summary

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. 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.

Author Biography

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 numerous policy studies and statements for several denominational and NGO organizations, including Population Perils and the Churches' Response and Chrsitian Environmental Ethics: A Case-Study Approach, which he co-authored with Robert Stivers.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Abbreviations	p. xxi
Introduction	p. 1
Religious Understandings of Energy	p. 1
Moral Challenges in Energy Use	p. 3
Problems Related to Fossil Fuel Energy Sources	p. 6
Global Warming and Climate Change	p. 12
Conclusion	p. 21
Ethical Resources	p. 23
Justice and Environmental Issues	p. 24
The Ethic of Ecological Justice	p. 26
Energy Policy Guidelines	p. 37
Guidelines for Ethical Assessment of Climate Policies	p. 40
Conclusion	p. 44
Conventional Energy Options	p. 45
Conventional, Nonrenewable Energy Sources in the United States	p. 47
Conclusion	p. 69
Alternative and Renewable Energy Options	p. 71
An Initial Ethical Assessment	p. 75
Policy Recommendations	p. 105
Conclusion	p. 109
International Climate Policy	p. 111
History of International Climate Policy	p. 114
Ethical Assessment of Current International Climate Policy Negotiations	p. 118
Climate Justice arid the Greenhouse Development Rights Framework	p. 127
Key Aspects of the Greenhouse Development Rights Framework	p. 129
Implementation of the Greenhouse Development Rights Framework	p. 132
Conclusion	p. 135
U.S. Climate Policy	p. 137
Envisioning a Just Climate Policy for the United States	p. 138
History of U.S. Climate Policy	p. 141
American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009	p. 143
Prospects in the Senate and the Need for U.S. Leadership	p. 156
Conclusion	p. 158
Climate Justice Applied: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies at Luther College	p. 161
Luther's GHG Reduction Strategies	p. 164
Conclusion	p. 179
Notes	p. 181
Glossary	p. 211
Index	p. 219
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