Who's to Blame?

Climate Change. Many of us have been exposed to the concept of climate change and global warming, whether it be from the news, school, etc. We've all learned about the phrase "Reduce.Reuse. Recycle." in elementary school and most of us try our best to make beneficial environmental decisions. Most of us are aware that the current state of the environment is on the decline due to factors such as pollution, deforestation, carbon emission, and animal endangerment. 

The process of fixing all of the environmental issues we face, is not an easy one. The solution to climate change is a complicated matter that will take a lot of effort and more importantly: money and time. This arises the question of who should be responsible for fixing the environment for future generations?  The text, "Cosmopolitan Justice, Responsibility, and Global Climate Change" further implores this question and discusses the changes that we as a society have to make in order to save the planet. 

So...who's to blame?

The answer to this question is simple: we are. You may be questioning who is "we" and to this I tell you that "we" is all of us who are currently inhabiting the planet right now. As stated in the text, it is true the start of climate change could have been caused by our ancestors as the origins of environmental decline can be traced as far back to the Industrial Revolution. However, this mentality of pushing the blame on others will incite no positive change. We are all responsible for what is happening to Earth right now as well, as modern technology has greatly contributed to the harming of the planet. We must collectively shoulder the blame and work together to save the planet for the future.

If all generations use the mentality that the "polluter pays" then no good change will come forth as all generations have contributed to harming the environment; and since past generations are now dead, no one is here to "take the blame". That is why we must stop placing the blame on others and take the safety of our planet as each of our responsibilities. Like Caney stated, those who are contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and are thus also contributing to the harming of the planet should "pay" as well. And as far as I am concerned, that is all of us. If we all collectively decide that we must incite change, then future generations will adopt that mentality as well and will also make it their responsibility to fix the environmental problems that the human race created.