Climate Change and Sustainability

Abstract

AbstractThe chapter discusses the challenge of global climate change and its relationship with sustainability. Following a brief review of the origin, principal drivers and current situation of climate change, an analysis of recent developments in climate change ethics and climate justice and their influence on climate change global policies is presented. We argue that the heterogeneous global climate movement has captured the world’s attention and will probably influence the future course of events. Finally, the chapter addresses the essential role of climate change action in achieving global sustainability and focuses on the interdependency between global inequalities and economic growth. The compatibility of mainstream neoclassical economics (MNE) with the rapid mitigation needed to reach the Paris Agreement temperature goals is discussed. Although far from optimal MNE mitigation policies, world climate change policies are strongly influenced by the global dominance of neoclassical economics.