Environmental sustainability is not worth pursuing unless it is achieved for ethical reasons

摘要: This paper analytically characterizes the four main environmental sustainability paradigms (i.e., WS, weak sustainability; AG, a-growth; DG, de-growth; and SS, strong sustainability) by introducing uncertainty about future preferences for consumption technologies. SS represents an ethical approach because of its maximum aversion to inter-generational inequality resources, whereas DG depicts preference changes, AG technology WS reference paradigm without accounting or changes. By comparing costs benefits these paradigms, solutions derived whole parameter domains based on data a globally representative individual suggest that whenever is pursued welfare reasons within utilitarian perspective DG), it not worth pursuing. In contrast, if achieved egalitarian SS), pursuing, even with increased world population. terms feasibility whether there are realistic values such given can achieve goal), ranked ethics > preference > technology SS > DG > AG), unfeasible. Thus, inconsistent empirically solves theoretical dispute absolute rights, must be treated as issue. A conceptual discussion ethics statistical analysis panel at country level support same insights. reliability national policies international agreements which feasible paradigm), could enforced global agreement, supported 66/55% governments top-down approach) 56/51% citizens bottom-up approach), in most certain/uncertain scenarios, respectively.