Equity and Climate Change
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Politics and International Relations
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Simon Caney (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Caney S
(2011)
Justice and the duties of the advantaged: a defence
in Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy
Caney S
(2009)
Justice and the distribution of greenhouse gas emissions1
in Journal of Global Ethics
Caney S
(2010)
Markets, Morality and Climate Change: What, if Anything, is Wrong with Emissions Trading?
in New Political Economy
Caney S
(2009)
Climate Change and the Future: Discounting for Time, Wealth, and Risk
in Journal of Social Philosophy
Caney S
(2012)
Addressing Poverty and Climate Change: The Varieties of Social Engagement
in Ethics & International Affairs
CANEY S
(2012)
Just Emissions
in Philosophy & Public Affairs
Caney S
(2011)
The Ethics of Global Climate Change
Caney, S
(2010)
Climate Ethics: Essential Readings
Caney, S L R
(2009)
Giustizia, morale e mercato delle emissioni
in Ragion Pratica
Caney, S L R
(2012)
Demokratie und Gerechtigkeit in Verteilungskonflikten
| Description | The research project on 'Equity and Climate Change' examined the ethical challenges raised by climate change, and developed an account of the kind of principles of justice that should guide responses to dangerous climate change. It began (in Year 1) by identifying the nature of the fundamental principles of justice that should inform climate policy. In doing so it developed a human rights framework, and employed that to conceptualise climatic impacts and determine what constitutes dangerous climate change. In addition to this it drew on this human rights framework to identify both how to address the risks inherent in climate projections, and what obligations members of current generations have to future generations. Finally, it employed the human rights framework to determine principles of just burden-sharing, and the equitable distribution of greenhouse gas emissions. In Year 2 it examined different policy instruments in the light of the principles developed in Year 1. Drawing on the principles derived in Year 1, I developed a normative framework for evaluating the selection of mitigation policies. I focused in particular on what principles should inform (a) the design of emissions trading schemes; (b) the deployment of alternative energy sources (such as biofuels) and (c) policies for technological innovation and transfer. Finally, in Year 3 my research examined how institutions (including both domestic and international institutions) need to be reformed to encourage an equitable response to climate change and to realize the principles and policies explored in Years 1 and 2. It developed an account of governance that integrates both 'procedural' ideals of inclusion and participation, with a 'substantive' commitment to protecting vital interests. In short the project on 'Equity and Climate Change' analysed the Principles, Policies and Institutions that are needed to provide an equitable response to climate change. |
| Exploitation Route | My findings could be taken forward in three ways. First, by broadening out the focus from climate change to global environmental change more generally. Second, by exploring reforms to existing political institutions at the national and international level to induce them to take a more long term perspective in decision-making. Various strategies have been adopted (in, for example, Finland, Israel, New Zealand and Wales) and it would be good to compare them. Third, a next step is to develop a comparative normative framework for evaluating different energy systems (so 'energy and equity'). I am engaged in the first and second and plan to undertake the third, funding permitted. All three are important opportunities where existing research could be taken forward and developed further. |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Transport |
| URL | http://simoncaney.weebly.com/climate-justice.html |
| Description | My research on the link between climate change and human rights has been taken up by many non-academic users. The World Bank engages with it in its 2010 World Development Report. It also engaged with it in its 2011 study 'Human Rights and Climate Change: A Review of the International Legal Dimensions'. The TUC's policy on climate change ('Making Common Cause: Human Rights, Labour Rights and Climate Change') draws on and cites my work on human rights and climate change. In addition to this, UNICEF has drawn on this research in their policy briefs 'A brighter tomorrow: climate change, child rights and intergenerational justice' (2009). Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) referred to my research on human rights and climate change (http://thebrowser.com/interviews/mary-robinson-on-climate-justice). Finding 2: The report on 'Biofuels: Ethical Issues' (of which I was one of the co-authors) was discussed by the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Select Committee on 21 Feb 2012. The Chair of the Committee (Tim Yeo MP) endorsed the report's 6 principles that I was responsible for developing (saying, "The Nuffield Council's six principles seem to me to be completely beyond argument"). Finding 3: The International Council on Human Rights Policy commissioned a background paper entitled 'Climate Technology Transfer: A Derivation of Rights- and Duties-Bearers from Fundamental Human Rights' [17,000 words]. This was for its report 'Beyond Technology Transfer Protecting Human Rights in a Climate-Constrained World' (2011). Chapter Two of the report was based on my paper (cf p.vii). Finding 4: A proposal of mine concerning protecting future generations from climate change was quoted by the Rt Hon Ed Miliband (when Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change) in his speech 'The Road to Copenhagen' given at the LSE on 17 November 2009. Other users include the IPCC (I was a contributing author for WGIII for the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report, and my work was cited extensively in several chapters in AR5. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
| Sector | Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Human Rights for Future Generations |
| Amount | £1,050,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Oxford Martin School |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2013 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | Report on Biofuels |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The report received widespread coverage by newspapers and was disseminated to policy makers. The report on 'Biofuels: Ethical Issues' was discussed by the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Select Committee on 21 Feb 2012. The Chair of the Committee (Tim Yeo MP) endorsed the report's 6 principles that I was responsible for developing (saying, "The Nuffield Council's six principles seem to me to be completely beyond argument"). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011 |
| Description | report for World Bank on 'Ethics and Climate Change' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was commissioned to write a report/background paper for the World Bank for its 'World Development Report 2010: Development and Climate Change' (Washington DC: World Bank, 2010). Some of its ideas were discussed in the World Development Report 2010: Development and Climate Change (Washington DC: World Bank, 2010). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | report on clean technology and ethics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I wrote a background paper on 'Climate Technology Transfer: A Derivation of Rights- and Duty- Bearers from Fundamental Human Rights' (2009) [17,000 words] for the International Council on Human Rights Policy for its report on Beyond Technology Transfer Protecting Human Rights in a Climate-Constrained World (Geneva: ICHRP, 2011). Chapter Two of the report was based on my paper (cf p.vii). My paper was incorporated into a report by the International Council on Human Rights Policy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| URL | http://www.ichrp.org/files/reports/65/138_ichrp_climate_tech_transfer_report.pdf |