Laurie Harris

Visiting Professor

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 12:00-1:00 p.m. Bren Hall 1424

"Current Issues in Global Environmental Ethics: Why Global Environmental Problems Are Ethical Problems"

The complex and growing global market is the largest and most powerful force in the world. It demands that anyone who wants to regulate it must realize the inter-related economic and environmental consequences of their actions. As international trade expands and globalism increases, global environmental deterioration has become more widespread and serious. Globalization has raised the stakes and the need for balancing and integrating economic and environmental interests.

What criteria should we use to balance these interests? Can we rely on global codes of conduct to limit the behavior of multinational corporations? Who should define "sustainability"? To what extent can principles of American law be applied to regulate the behavior of multinational organizations in developing nations? What ethical principles apply to global environmental problems?