Dr David Coady (Senior lecturer in philosophy, University of Tasmania). Climate change, personal responsibility and carbon footprints

Dr Coady argues that, contrary to Walter Sinnott-Armstrong and a number of other authors, climate change gives rise to personal, not just political, obligations. Almost all reasonably affluent people (especially those living in the industrialised world) are obliged to limit their own carbon footprint. This is not an obligation that can readily be offset through political activity or any other kind of activity. The precise nature and extent of our obligation to limit our carbon footprint will depend to some extent on government policy.