Solidarity Between Generations: An African Approach to Climate Change

This chapter draws on sub-Saharan African ethics to develop an argument for mitigating climate change and easing adaptation for the world's most vulnerable people. Section 1 sets forth a theoretical groundwork that appeals to two prominent African views of personhood. Section 2 elaborates these frameworks in the context of climate change, discussing  ubuntu, solidarity, and common humanity. Section 3 considers the practical implications of the ethical analysis with special attention to justly transitioning toward sustainable development. Section 4 concludes that African ethics brings important insights to debates about climate change and duties to future people, especially duties to those most vulnerable to climate change's effects.