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According to Broome (2008), the issue of climate change relates back to the fundamentals – ethics. In his article, he demonstrated an opportunity for a more in-depth outlook over the global warming situation that cannot be simply subjected to scientific and economic analysis. More importantly, it takes the efforts of each individual to protect life from climatic changes. On a personal level, no doubt climatic changes only stabilize under the working hands of the government and its people; the ethics of each individual still plays a pivotal role in resolving the situation.

A large number of environmental problems including climate change revolved from many of the tiny cumulative impacts from personal activities that seem undamaging to the planet. According to the World Health Organization, it “estimates as long ago as 2000 the annual death toll from climate change had already reached more than 150,000” (Broome, 2008, para. 5). Just as many actions of the past ancestors affect the people of today, the behaviour of the existing generation will incur long-term consequences that cannot be perceived for now. Each individual may not have the ability to visualize the connection between daily life activities and forms of energy consumption. With the focus on human contributions to greenhouse effect, each individual need to recognize the role he or she has to play, that is by introducing changes to their daily practices. Therefore, the importance of ethics is being signified for one to introduce variations to one’s lifestyle in contributing to the welfare of the climate change.

As discussed by Broome (2008), common sense, rather than sophisticated philosophy is necessary in resolving of ethical questions. Besides common sense, one’s education also drives one’s ethical views. The positive attitude adopted from education will correspond to affirmative thinking, and thus promoting good ethical values. In addition, public education campaigns are being held to target the individuals in finding alternatives to their everyday activities. This further assists individualists in identifying his or her efforts to address the challenge. Hence, the significance of ethical values throughout lives can be agreed upon the education system.

With response to this world-wide climate challenge, individual efforts are definitely not sufficient in introducing major adjustments to the climate. More importantly, it requires the effort of a responsible government at all levels, be it national or global. As long as the parliament implements measures or policies alongside with ethical values, the citizens will be more than willing to participate in the activities. Thus, governments should always place ethical values with respect to introducing new concepts to its people.

In conclusion, a balanced integration of individual and government efforts’, interwoven with core ethical principles should lead humanity along a more sustainable path than now. The incorporation of good ethical values will ensure a more effective address not just to climate change, but a host of environmental problems.

References

Broome, J. (2008, May 19). The Ethics of Climate Change. Scientific American Magazine. Retrieved August 5, 2008, from http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-ethics-of-climate-change&ec=b_at11