This book develops a theory of climate cooperation designed for concerted action, which emphasises the role and function of collectives in achieving shared climate goals.
In debates on climate change action, research focuses on three major goals: on mitigation, on adaptation and on transformation. Even though these goals are accepted, concerted action is still difficult to realize. Climate Justice and Collective Action provides an analysis of why this is the case and develops a theory of climate cooperation designed to overcome the existing roadblocks. Angela Kallhoff starts with a thorough analysis of failures of collective action in the context of climate change action. Taking inspiration from theories of water cooperation, she then establishes a theory of joint action that reframes climate goals as shared goals and highlights the importance of adhering to principles of fairness. This also includes an exploration of the normative claims working in the background of climate cooperation. Finally, Kallhoff puts forward proposals for a fair allocation of duties to cooperate with respect to climate goals.
This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of climate action, climate justice, environmental sociology and environmental philosophy and ethics more broadly.
1. Theoretical Frame
2. The Tragedy of the Commons Recalled
3. Collective Action Problems Reconsidered
4. Joint Environmental Action: The Building Blocks
5. The Ethos in Joint Environmental Action
6. Climate Goals Revisited
7. Climate Duties
8. Climate Duties as Joint-Action Duties
9. A Fair Share in Accumulative Goals
10. Some Conclusions: Institutions and Responsibilities
Biography
Angela Kallhoff is Professor of Ethics with Special Emphasis of Applied Ethics at the University of Vienna, Austria. She works on ethics, climate ethics and political philosophy. Her books include Why Democracy Needs Public Goods (2011), and, as an editor, Plant Ethics: Concepts and Applications (2018) and Nanotechnology: Regulation and Public Discourse (2019).
"Linear thinking, instrumental reason, and traditional morality fail us when it comes to problems like climate change. This is easy to say, but theorizing the way forward is extremely difficult. Climate Justice and Collective Action is a major contribution to this challenge. Eminently steeped in the literature, Kallhoff develops an account that holds together the holistic nature of the problems we face with new models of cooperation, all constrained by considerations of justice. This is a "must read" for anyone interested in the politics and ethics of the Anthropocene." -- Dale Jamieson, NYU Law School and College of Arts and Sciences, USA
"Kallhoff’s timely book offers a rigorous overview of weaknesses in current collective action programs aimed at addressing climate change, proposing, as an alternative, a joint, goal-oriented approach that builds positively on the cooperative spirit of local, as much as global communities. A must read for those passionate about these issues." -- Tracey Skillington, University College Cork, Ireland
"Rich, lucid and insightful. Kallhoff provides an illuminating account of why climate change is a such a serious challenge to humanity, and of the way ahead. An important resource for thinking about climate change and collective action. Indeed, just the kind of serious but engaged scholarship we urgently need." -- Stephen Gardiner, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
