Climate change headed a list of policy priorities in Obama's 2nd inaugural address:
The speech frames his policy agenda within a values framework historically relevant to the United States. But the relationship between the values we hold and our beliefs about the problems we think exist in the world is an interdependent one. Just as our values can influence what we believe to be true, an open-minded appraisal of our beliefs can determine which values we prioritise. If this is true, a sincere assessment of the issue of climate change must combine judgements about the values at stake - fairness to the next generation, prevention of harm to the environment and those affected - with a critical assessment of the nature of the problem and the proposed solutions. Thoughtful people in a democratic society should therefore want credible answers to the following set of practical questions, which apply to any public policy problem.
Is there a problem?
How serious is the problem?
What feasible strategies are there for dealing with the problem?
Will a chosen solution be effective in solving the problem?
Will an effective solution cause more harm than good?
The speech frames his policy agenda within a values framework historically relevant to the United States. But the relationship between the values we hold and our beliefs about the problems we think exist in the world is an interdependent one. Just as our values can influence what we believe to be true, an open-minded appraisal of our beliefs can determine which values we prioritise. If this is true, a sincere assessment of the issue of climate change must combine judgements about the values at stake - fairness to the next generation, prevention of harm to the environment and those affected - with a critical assessment of the nature of the problem and the proposed solutions. Thoughtful people in a democratic society should therefore want credible answers to the following set of practical questions, which apply to any public policy problem.
Is there a problem?
How serious is the problem?
What feasible strategies are there for dealing with the problem?
Will a chosen solution be effective in solving the problem?
Will an effective solution cause more harm than good?
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