On the acceptance of intergenerational climate legacies: A comparison of Canada and Japan

Abstract

Intergenerational climate justice negotiations often flounder on three questions: What was the outcome on climate change? Was it intentional? Why should the current generation pay for the misdeeds of previous generations? In this research, participants from Japan and Canada rated their willingness to accept intergenerational climate legacies and the responsibilities these legacies entail; judged the importance of intent and outcome associated with creating these legacies; and rated their willingness to compensate those negatively impacted by previous generations. The study found: a) while outcome was important, intent did not matter; b) Canadians were more likely to accept an inheritance and c) more likely to equivocate, in acceptance, if it entailed obligations than the Japanese; d) among those who accepted the inheritance, Japanese were more generous in settlement of previous generation’s obligations; e) lower-income, non-Judeo-Christian participants were systematically fairer than others; and f) the resistance to compensation for past generations’ actions was diminished with the awareness about the broad scope of intergenerational climate legacies that the current generation enjoyed. Our findings highlight the influences of culture and historic awareness on accepting climate responsibilities for actions of previous generations and willingness to provide compensation. The findings also support abandoning the debate on intentionality.