The Ethics of Climate Change- John Broome

In the journal article "The Ethics of Climate Change" by John Broome, he discusses how our society today needs to take responsibility for tomorrow. We know about the causes and effects of climate change, but it is much more difficult to figure out what we should do about it now and how ethically we need to think and react. It is our responsibility to start to change our ways for the well being of future generations.
There has been a slow increase in natural disasters. Major earthquakes have rocked the planet, it seems that after the first one they have continued because of changes in the Earth’s crust. Recently, a volcano in Iceland erupted which caused havoc for travelers. The increase in global temperatures is responsible for glaciers melting, unusual floods and dangerous weather such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Global warming is very much responsible for climate change and we are seeing these obvious concerns.
When Broome talks about the money market, he is talking about how people have a surplus of goods. “In going about our daily lives, each of us causes greenhouse gases to be emitted. Driving a car, using electric power, buying anything whose manufacture or transport consumes energy- all those activities generate greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change” (Broome, 12). As a society, we indulge ourselves with things we do not need and we don’t think twice whether or not we are hurting our planet. It is time to just say no.
Broome talks about the ethical economics of our generations to reduce greenhouse gases. The wealthy should consider the excess use of fancy cars and things but can we just blame the rich or should we all do our part? Some think that the cost to be more efficient with our energy is too expensive, changing light bulbs, insulating our homes, driving hybrid cars, eating less meat and using less paper. If it is done now it will save money for the future. The problem is that people do not care about the people of the far away future. They only care for the people in the present or their grandchildren. Why should I deny myself now for things that may happen one hundred years from now?
In the film “Just Add Water”, the fictitious town of Trona is taken over by drug dealers. All the water in the town dries up and nothing can grow. When the people decide to take control and get rid of the drug dealers, it miraculously rains. Even though this film is not about climate change, it’s symbolic of the will of people and how change can be achieved.
As a society, we need to start to care about the future. In the Hanes commercial, two guys are walking in the mall wearing a sweatshirt, shirt, pants and socks. One guy is wearing Hanes brand that is ecologically earth-friendly. The other guy is presumably wearing “American Apparel-like” brand, which is not environmentally friendly. The children are making sad faces and dirty looks at the guy not wearing Hanes. He becomes uncomfortable. The children recognize which brands are safe for the environment. Our children have learned to be responsible from their parents, it is time for us to ethically do the right thing and act on what we know is right for generations one hundred years from now.