The University of Fribourg Environmental Sciences and Humanities Institute (UniFR_ESH Institute) is happy to announce its workshop “The Ethics of Climate Loss and Damage”. The event takes place at the Campus Pérolles on the 15th-16th of May 2023.

The climate crisis manifests with rising temperatures, melting glaciers, changing precipitation patterns, and increased probability of extreme weather events. Vulnerable communities are particularly affected by these changes and are unable to continue their traditional ways of life. While the focus of public debate continues to be on preventing negative impacts of climate change (mitigation), it is becoming increasingly apparent that some adverse impacts of climate change cannot or will not be prevented – climate loss and damage is occurring or has already occurred.

Dealing with these losses and damages raises important ethical questions: Who should pay for the harm suffered? Who should be compensated and how much? What constitutes adequate compensation for lost ways of life? What are fair and appropriate measures for dealing with future harm? Who decides about all that? Answers to such questions require ethical concepts and principles. The aim of the workshop is to discuss and develop them in critical ethical and philosophical exchange.