Carbon dioxide and intergenerational choice

TLDR

The paper discusses how differing ethical beliefs lead to varied approaches to the CO₂ problem, noting that an international consensus is unlikely and suggesting that delaying definitive decisions until more accurate research is available may be prudent. If scientific evidence is accepted and all future generations are evaluated equally, the authors argue that the optimal regulatory strategy is to restrict current CO₂ emissions as much as possible. The study cites 17 references and includes 2 figures and 1 table.

Abstract

Depending on ethical beliefs, different decisions emerge for resolving the carbon dioxide (CO/sup 2/) issue. It is doubtful that an international consensus can be reached on a correct ethical criterion. Perhaps the best strategy would be to delay acceptance of either a particular set of beliefs or the existing scientific evidence and wait for more-accurate and conclusive research to emerge. If the scientific evidence is accepted as valid, and all future generations that will exist are evaluated equally, then the optimal current regulatory strategy is to restrict, as much as possible, current emissions of CO/sup 2/. 17 references, 2 figure, 1 table.