Description
Nuclear weapons and climate change both imperil the well-being of future generations by externalizing potential harm long-term. This article conducts a comparative analysis of intergenerational justice concerns in these contexts. Its central argument underscores the distinct temporality of both challenges, identifying three crucial temporal disparities. First, the externalization of intergenerational harm follows different timelines. Climate-related risks intensify across successive generations, whereas the risk of nuclear deterrence failure accumulates long term, meaning that it becomes more likely over extended periods compared to shorter ones. Second, the sustainability of present generations' incentives to prioritize immediate benefits over future generations’ well-being varies. The appeal of fossil fuels is expected to wane over time in the context of climate change, whereas perceived benefits of nuclear deterrence are likely to endure. Third, the visual salience of intergenerational responsibility fluctuates over time. Past nuclear explosions served as stark reminders, while the gradual impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly evident. Studying how intergenerational injustice unfolds through climate change and continued reliance on nuclear deterrence over time may facilitate a review of both mitigation and rectification strategies. It also promotes critical reflection on how we conceive of future generations' suffering and subsequently conceptualize their moral standing.
