The Ethics of Climate Policy: A Systematic Literature Review

Damian J. Bridge

Accounting and Finance, 2025, vol. 65, issue 4, 3809-3828

Abstract: Climate change as we know it is a significant social, economic, and environmental problem. As such, it must be considered above all an ethical problem, and climate policy initiatives must be considered through an ethical lens. Utilising a systematic literature review of the ethics of climate policy, this paper reveals six distinct areas in the existing literature: ethics and policy; climate ethics; market‐based mechanisms; social welfare; justice and equity; and climate action. The review also identifies five emerging research topics, namely: climate engineering; gender; efficiency versus sovereignty; transformative justice; and artificial intelligence. This review finds an intrinsic relationship between ethics, climate change, and policy. Finally, a research agenda is presented identifying areas of potential future research as well as possible methodology enhancements.

Date: 2025
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