Intergenerational ethical responsibility in sustainable development policy and environmental economics

Abstract

In the context of global climate change and the increasingly serious degradation of natural resources, the relationship between economic development and environmental protection has become a central issue of both economics and moral philosophy. In particular, the question of the responsibility of the current generation to future generations poses important challenges to the traditional approach of economics, which often prioritizes maximizing short-term benefits. This paper aims to analyze the concept of intergenerational justice through the lens of environmental economics, and to examine the role of ethical theories such as utilitarianism and Rawls's theory of justice in shaping sustainable development policies. The research method used in the paper is theoretical analysis combined with the synthesis of existing academic research. The paper argues that the use of economic tools such as discount rates in policy reviews can lead to an underestimation of long-term benefits, thereby diminishing the interests of future generations. At the same time, ethical theories provide an important basis for reshaping this approach in a more equitable direction. The results of the study suggest that economic development policies can only be considered rational if they fully integrate intergenerational moral factors. This requires a shift in both theoretical and practical thinking in policymaking, to ensure that economic growth does not occur at the expense of environmental degradation and intergenerational injustice.