The ‘Common Heritage of Mankind’: Philosophical Foundations

The Common Heritage of Mankind principle holds that some natural and cultural items belong to all mankind and must be preserved for future generations, rather than being used up in the present. This project will provide, for the first time, systematic, unified moral underpinnings for this nascent principle of international law. The book and academic articles it produces will contribute to philosophical debates on climate change, global justice, and duties towards future generations. Those and other outputs will offer practical guidance to policymakers and stakeholders in reshaping global governance around the principle of the Common Heritage of Mankind.