What the study found
The review found that climate change is treated in the literature as a moral issue involving justice, equity, responsibility, and the right to a livable planet. It identifies five ethical domains in the reviewed material: conceptual foundations of climate ethics, global climate justice, intergenerational and intragenerational ethics, ecological ethics, and ethical governance.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that climate change is not only a technical or policy problem, but also a moral test of fairness, solidarity, and stewardship. They say that embedding ethics in climate governance through equitable finance, inclusive participation, and intergenerational accountability can strengthen the legitimacy and effectiveness of climate responses.
What the researchers tested
The study is a comprehensive literature review of work published between 1990 and 2025. It draws on 150 peer-reviewed articles, books, and policy documents to examine how ethical reasoning and moral frameworks have shaped global, national, and local responses to climate change.
What worked and what didn't
The review reports that principles such as harm prevention, precaution, equity, solidarity, and responsibility increasingly inform climate policy and governance. It also says these principles are being used to align climate action with human rights and sustainable development, while emphasizing equitable finance, inclusive participation, and intergenerational accountability.
What to keep in mind
This is a review of existing literature, not a direct empirical test of a specific intervention. The abstract does not describe limitations beyond the study's broad scope across multiple document types and levels of climate response.
Key points
- The review frames climate change as a moral issue involving justice, equity, responsibility, and a livable planet.
- Five ethical domains are identified: climate ethics foundations, global climate justice, intergenerational and intragenerational ethics, ecological ethics, and ethical governance.
- The authors say ethics can strengthen climate governance through equitable finance, inclusive participation, and intergenerational accountability.
- The literature reviewed shows growing use of harm prevention, precaution, equity, solidarity, and responsibility in climate policy.
- The study analyzed 150 peer-reviewed articles, books, and policy documents published from 1990 to 2025.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Climate ethics review finds justice and responsibility shape responses
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-02
- DOI:
- 10.1002/sd.71020
- OpenAlex record:
- View
Get the weekly research newsletter
Stay current with peer-reviewed research without reading academic papers — one filtered digest, every Friday.