ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the problem of individual duties in the context of the climate crisis. We begin by locating it in the inescapable context of collective action problems. In an effort to understand the psychological dynamics that make those situations go awry so often, we look at the idea any individual might have that his or her contributions to the problem are “negligible.” We will attempt to find a way around this very compelling thought, first by showing how to moralize the small consumption choices we make all the time; and second, by turning to a virtue-ethical analysis of the problem. This will bring us to a direct consideration of what individuals should do in our non-ideal situation. We examine two options: (a) working for meaningful institutional change; and (b) carbon offsetting.
