Author: Julianne Feuchter, Current PPL Fourth Year
This paper explores the question of whether our current government system is capable of truly addressing sustainability or if there are inherent limits to the current democratic system that impair it from doing so. I argue that the current lack of regard for human rights to a healthy environment, the inherent tension between democracy and intergenerational justice, the power dynamic between present and future generations, and the difficulty humans have with thinking in the long term necessitate a fundamental shift in how future generations are represented in government in order to ensure that sustainability can be rightfully considered in policy making. I examine governmental bodies that represent a future interest in a multitude of contexts and look at court cases that hint towards solutions. Read on to learn about possible changes to our governance that would promote intergenerational justice.
Key words: Sustainability, Intergenerational Justice, Democracy, Representation, Human Rights, Power
Julianne is a fourth-year student double majoring in PPL and Global Sustainability with a minor in French. After graduation, she will attend law school to pursue a career in environmental law!
Below you will find a copy of Julianne's full Global Sustainability thesis: