American Heat: Ethical Problems with the United States' Response to Global WarmingRowman & Littlefield, 2002 - 261 pages When the world began to wake up to the global environmental crisis in the 1970s, the United States was the undisputed world leader in environmental policy. Yet, on an unsettling number of international environmental issues--including global warming--the U.S. has not only forfeited its leadership role but has too often become the major barrier to protecting the global environment. In American Heat, Donald Brown critically analyzes the U.S. response to global warming, inviting readers to examine the implicit morality of the U.S position, and ultimately to help lead the world toward an equitable sharing of the burdens and benefits of protecting the global environment. In short, Brown argues that an ethical focus on global environmental matters is the key to achieving a globally acceptable solution. |
Contents
Absence of Ethical Concern | 3 |
History of US Participation in Global Warming Negotiations | 13 |
Environmental Ethics and Global Warming Policy | 49 |
Global Warming Ethics and Foreign Policy | 67 |
What Is at Stake? Global Warmings Threat to Human Health and the Environment | 85 |
Uncertainty in the Science of Climate Change | 101 |
Ethical Analysis of US Excuses for Lack of Action on Global Warming | 135 |
Ethical Duty to Reduce Emissions in the Face of Scientific Uncertainty about Global Warming Consequences | 137 |
Ethical Problems with the US Insistence on Its View of the Kyoto Flexibility Mechanisms | 185 |
Other Global Warming Ethical Issues | 201 |
An Equitable Allocation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions among Nations | 203 |
Ethical Dimensions of a Greenhouse Gas Atmospheric Stabilization Target | 225 |
Conclusion Some Additional Issues | 235 |
Glossary | 243 |
Bibliography | 249 |
| 257 | |
US Obligations to Act Even if the Developing World Does Not | 151 |
Ethical Issues Entailed by the Use of CostBenefit AnalysisBased Arguments Made in Opposition to US Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs | 163 |
About the Author | |
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