Intergenerational justice in energy policy. [Monograph]
The finite nature of fossil fuels is common to all mineral resources, but fossil fuels are special in that they cannot be recycled. Offsetting resource depletion with improved technology and high capital investment means that future policies must compensate for a corresponding loss in productive potential. Intergenerational justice in energy decisions, however, is no different than for any other context. Using utility as the criterion for compensation for resource depletion is wrong because present generations cannot be held responsible for the satisfaction future generations will derive from their opportunities. Just policies for the present should compensate for reducing the range of opportunities in terms of productive policies. This raises the question of what opportunities future generations should have and how to define an appropriate standard for judging those opportunities. The predictions of what will fairly compensate future generations for a loss of productive capacity should consider the value of capital stock that is passed on. The practical problems associated with intergenerational justice cannot avoid the risk of cultural impoverishment, irreversibility, and disproportion. (DCK)
- OSTI ID:
- 6775189
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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POLICY AND ECONOMY
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RESOURCE DEPLETION
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ALLOCATIONS
ETHICS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
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