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Reparative Justice for Climate Refugees

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2019

Rebecca Buxton
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Abstract

This paper sketches an account of reparative justice for climate refugees, focusing on total land loss due to sea-level rise. I begin by outlining the harm of this loss in terms of self-determination and cultural heritage. I then consider, first, who is owed these reparations? Second, who should pay such reparations? Third, in what form should the reparations be paid? I end with thoughts on the project of reparative justice more generally, arguing that such obligations do not depend upon a perfect account of how reparations might be fulfilled; we simply have an obligation to shoot the arrow as close to the target as we can.

Type
Winner of the 2018 Philosophy prize essay competition
Information
Philosophy , Volume 94 , Issue 2 , April 2019 , pp. 193 - 219
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Philosophy 2019 

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References

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