ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a discussion on the concepts of environmental sustainability and the related concepts of weak, strong and very strong sustainability; natural capital; critical natural capital; and planetary boundaries. Then, inspired by Sen’s capability approach and Scanlon’s contractualist ethics, a conceptualization of sustainable development is presented as an increase in legitimate freedoms that cannot be reasonably rejected. I argue that greenhouse gas neutral and greenhouse gas negative development are ethically acceptable but that they are also wicked problems, as is exemplified by the case in India where the government has repeatedly argued that increased greenhouse gas emissions are justified on the basis of the need to reduce poverty. This position has been rejected by the Alliance of Small Island States who have argued that the Indian government is ‘hiding behind poverty’ whilst the Small Island States drown. Then I discuss the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), climate change mitigation, adaptation, resilience and loss and damage. The chapter concludes by indicating avenues for further research into the chapter’s concerns.
