Conclusion

Abstract

In addition to highlighting the main conclusions of our discussion in the preceding chapters, we emphasize that the lack of a more robust approach regarding people’s rights and responsibilities does not imply that we are unable to make any judgement at all. On the basis of moral responsibility for their luxury emissions, emitters can at least be assigned remedial responsibility for climate change. The arguments usually invoked to support exoneration from moral responsibility correspond to strategies of moral disengagement, enabling consumption elites to maintain their consumptive lifestyle without having to accept moral responsibility for the resultant harms. Finally, we provide an overview of strategies for addressing the motivational gap and tackling moral disengagement.