Final answer:
Personal responsibility plays a role in addressing climate change as our collective actions impact the environment. Issues such as the Free Rider Problem and the Prisoner's Dilemma complicate efforts for individual countries to reduce emissions. Nevertheless, with the knowledge of climate impacts, it is argued that current generations have a moral obligation to act more responsibly than in the past.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of personal responsibility is intrinsically linked to the social problem of climate change. Our individual actions have a cumulative effect on the environment, resulting in global challenges such as the depletion of planetary resources. Despite the complexity of identifying a single contributor to climate-related issues, it is crucial to recognize that our collective lifestyle choices and consumption patterns contribute significantly to these problems. The Free Rider Problem highlights how individuals or countries may lack the incentive to reduce their consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, despite the collective benefits of doing so. Moreover, the Prisoner's Dilemma in international politics makes it difficult for nations to cooperate and reduce emissions when there is an advantage in maintaining the status quo or waiting for others to take action first.
In terms of global responsibility, wealthier countries have a higher per capita pollution rate and have historically contributed more to greenhouse gas emissions than poorer nations, leading to a disparity in who should bear the burden of combating climate change. However, with increased awareness of environmental consequences, there is a moral argument that we should take more responsibility than previous generations for the harm caused by our demands. Counterarguments exist, with some claiming that climate change is overemphasized or not urgent, but an overwhelming majority of peer-reviewed climate science articles support the reality of human-induced climate change and its potential to cause significant social disruption unless addressed. Ultimately, decisions made today regarding climate action will shape the future world for upcoming generations.