Smart Talk: Dealing with climate change an ethical issue?

What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, May 6, 2014:

The effects of climate change are real, already having an impact, and will get worse unless the world finds a way to reduce greenhouse gases derived from burning fossil fuels. Those are the conclusions of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment being released Tuesday.

The report says ice caps are melting, water supplies are in jeopardy, extreme weather is becoming more common, and animal and plant species are changing how and where they live.

The assessment also warned that there could less food available to the world’s population if current conditions persists.

The Fifth Assessment differs somewhat from the previous four reports that went out between 1990 and 2007. Those assessments provided guidance for nations greenhouse gas reduction targets along economic lines. The latest report also includes the ethical and moral reasons the world and especially the nation’s with strong economies have a responsibility to confront climate change.

One of the contributing authors to that section of the IPCC report appears on Tuesday’s Smart Talk.

Dr. Donald Brown is a Scholar and Professor of Sustainability Ethics and Law at Widener School of Law in Harrisburg and has also authored several books on the topic.