Intergenerational justice, the principle of ensuring a safe and thriving planet for future generations, has been consistently neglected, revealing a profound failure of ethics. Despite recognising the moral obligation to protect the vulnerable, we have failed to extend this duty
to those who come next.
The ethical frameworks that guide human behavior, such as consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics, have proven insufficient in addressing intergenerational justice. These frameworks prioritise the interests of the present generation, neglecting the long-term consequences of our
actions.
The failure of ethics is evident in:
1. Climate change: despite knowing the devastating impact of our carbon footprint and destruction of nature, as a society we continue to prioritise short-term gains over care for the future.
2. Resource depletion: we exhaust natural resources, imperiling the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
3. Environmental degradation: we pollute and destroy ecosystems, compromising the health and wellbeing of those to come.
This ethical failure stems from a narrow focus on individual rights and interests, neglecting the collective and long-term implications of our actions. It also reflects a flawed understanding of human flourishing, prioritising material prosperity over the wellbeing of life and the planet.
To address this failure, we must expand our ethical considerations to include the interests of future generations, adopting a long-term perspective that prioritises sustainability and the preservation of life, nature and the planet as a whole. By recognising the intrinsic value of the natural world and the inherent rights of future generations, we can build a more just and sustainable future.