Climate Change Essay

Paarlberg, R. (2008). The ethics of modern agriculture. Society. Vol. 46 (1) 4-8.

This is one of the few works that directly addresses the topic, where the author outlines the utilitarian calculus of modern agriculture as the basis for analyzing its ethics. There have been dramatic positive changes from modern agriculture techniques, he notes, at least in the short run. The author notes that there is a sort of apparent conflict in warning others not to make the same mistakes that we have made, even as we continue to make the same mistakes, and reap the economic rewards of those mistakes. On one hand, we are not wrong to caution others, on the other hand, we are unwilling to follow our own good advice. The factory mentality of today's farms has given rise to a number of ethical dilemmas, and this arises most clearly with the case of meat. We eat far more than we need to, yet it is the most wasteful and cruel element of the agricultural system. The author uses these examples and others to sum up the ethical dilemmas faced by modern agriculture, which has boosted short run productivity, but at significant costs that are typically hidden from the consumer.

Pfeiffer, D .(2011). Eating Fossil Fuels: Oil, Food and the Coming Crisis in Agriculture. New Society Publishes: Gabriola Island, BC.

This book outlines the role that fossil fuels play in the modern agricultural system. The author notes that much of modern production increases owes itself to fossil fuels, and that as our supply thereof runs low, we will find it difficult to sustain our current levels of food production. This is not even taking into account climate change, which will further challenge our abilities to feed ourselves. The author uses a number of examples to highlight the challenges that will be faced when our agricultural system -- so dependent on fossil fuels -- no longer has access to those inputs. The book provides some interesting background information and argument about this subject.

Rice, J. & Garcia, S. (2011). Fisheries, food security, climate change, and biodiversity: characteristics of the sector and perspectives on emerging issues. ICES Journal of Marine Science. Vol. 68 (6) 1343-1353.

This article examines the coming world to 2050, including projections for population growth, climate change, fisheries and food production. The authors note that to meet projections, fisheries production needs to increase by 50%, something that is unsustainable. This is an interesting perspective on the issue, because this is one area where there might have been potential to maintain food production in the face of declining agriculture, but it appears that it will be unsustainable or outright impossible to do so. The authors also note that experts on these different subjects tend to operate in silos, when they should be working with each other to solve these problems, with more urgency.

Rosset, P. (2011). Food sovereignty and alternative paradigms to confront land grabbing and the food and climate crises. Development Vol. 54 (2010) 21-30.

The author begins with the proposition that, if we are not facing it already, the world will be facing a multitude of different crises simultaneously in the near future. A paradigm shift, he argues, is necessary, in order to meet these crises head on. The author makes an interesting point, and perhaps points to a resolution of the ethical dilemma at the heart of the article. The ethical dilemma is focused on…