Climate Change: Is Private Property the Solution or the Source of the Problem?

Abstract

This essay argues that the liberal conception of private property is not a solution to anthropogenic climate change but, rather, the source of the problem. The concept of private property facilitates the human activities that cause anthropogenic climate change, and the resulting human externalities suffered disproportionately by those in the developing world. The essay concludes that we can no longer wait for government to act; we must take individual, personal action now if we are to address the challenge of climate change.

Keywords: Private Property Law, Climate Change

JEL Classification: K11