What to Expect

Periodically, reference articles will be added to this section on general topics of interest to environmentalism—and more particularly on the topic of climate change—as part of the rollout of the full version of the site. (Be sure to check back often for updates.) These reference articles will form the philosophical, logical, historical, and scientific backdrop against which blog posts and other site content will be cast. The idea is to make important discussions taking place in the academic literature, government and intergovernmental bodies, and the media accessible to a general audience (yet one still willing to engage critically with the academic literature and empirical observations), and these reference articles might be considered the "pre-reading" to the get the lay reader up to speed on the basics of the discussion. A few topics with articles already in the works are described below:

Normative Metaphysics of Environmentalism

Is there a moral basis for environmentalism as a worldview? Can environmentalism be justified logically? What features of our planet or universe, if any, have intrinsic value? What is the relationship between intrinsic value and human obligation? What are the implications for ordering human society?

Environmentalism — A (Very) Brief History

When and under what circumstances did environmentalism develop as a movement? What are first- and second-wave environmental issues? What is the future role of environmentalism in society?

Environmental Economics

What are the economic implications of environmentalism? In what ways might the field of economics help accomplish environmental goals? Given differences in evaluation methods, is it appropriate to apply economics to environmentalism? Can economics be used to respond to climate change and other environmental issues?

Sociology of Science

What is the role of science in society? Does—or should—society grant moral authority to science? Has science entered a post-modern or "post-normal" era? What are the consequences for science as an epistemological method?

Climate Change Science

What are the basic physics principles at play behind anthropogenic climate change? To what extent do climate scientists agree that climate change 1) is indeed happening and 2) is caused by humans? What is to be made of the widespread skepticism—or even dismissal—of climate change science?

International Climate Negotiations

What is the history of international climate negotiations and treaties? What is the current state of such negotiations? What are the UNFCCC and IPCC? Is an international agreement necessary—and is it sufficient—to address climate change? In the absence of a global sovereign, is it reasonable to expect sufficient climate action at an international scale?

Climate Justice

What are the social justice implications of climate change? What are the links between economic development and climate change mitigation and adaptation goals? Do developed countries have an obligation towards developing countries given the former's historical emissions? Is responding to climate change more likely to help or hurt developing countries?

Ascription of Responsibility

Who is responsible for causing climate change, and who is responsible for addressing it? Can individual, local, or regional efforts make a difference on a global scale?