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Tremmel, Joerg Chet --- "Establishing intergenerational justice in national constitutions" [2006] ELECD 487; in Tremmel, Chet Joerg (ed), "Handbook of Intergenerational Justice" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2006)

Book Title: Handbook of Intergenerational Justice

Editor(s): Tremmel, Chet Joerg

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781845429003

Section: Chapter 10

Section Title: Establishing intergenerational justice in national constitutions

Author(s): Tremmel, Joerg Chet

Extract:

10 Establishing intergenerational justice in
national constitutions
Joerg Chet Tremmel


Introduction
Today's generation has the capacity to affect the future more than
ever before in the history of mankind. This chapter justifies the need to
institutionalize intergenerational justice, focusing on changes in national
constitutions. In this context, a `matrix of the institutionalization of
intergenerational justice' is developed. In dealing with the wording,
Beckerman's argument that we cannot attribute `rights' to future genera-
tions is rejected. Afterwards, some concrete proposals to institutionalize
ecological and financial generation protection clauses are drafted. Finally,
current initiatives by young members of parliament are portrayed although
their proposals are not bold enough.

The structural problem of democracy: future individuals have no votes
The principle of democracy, in its traditional and narrow form, can conflict
with the maxim of intergenerational justice. The need to appease the
electorate every four or five years means that politicians direct their
actions towards satisfying the needs and desires of present citizens ­ their
electorate. The interests, therefore, of future generations are all too often
neglected.
Due to his limited time in office, a politician will not have to take respon-
sibility for the consequences of his actions and also cannot be made liable
for them. Today's technological advancements mean that the consequences
of our present undertakings, such as the instalment of nuclear energy
plants, will have far reaching effects and a potentially deeply negative influ-
ence on the quality of life for numerous future generations.
Nuclear power stations in ...