Problem of agency in climate action
Abstract
We know how to address climate change, and we have the technology to do so. The problem is that key agents like governments and businesses will not act soon enough—in the existing structural context, meaningful climate action is against their immediate interests. Call this the problem of agency. This paper fleshes out the problem of agency in relation to climate action and argues that existing proposals for solving it fail. Our best hope for solving the problem of agency and addressing climate change lies in social movements.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Climate Change Policy and Economics
Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
Environmental Philosophy and Ethics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics
- Volume
- 26
- Pages
- 1–14
- Publication date
- 14 January 2026
- Language
- EN