The global climate regime from the perspective of international ethics: Transnational corporations as an actor

Ethics is not independent of the routine and actions of life. Every choice reflects an ethical view. It is an ethical question of what my purpose in life is. International ethics answers how to live together for who our responsibilities are and to whom/ for what shapes. Here are questions such as violations of human rights, environmental crises, unemployment, and genocide. Who is responsible for it? How should the responsibilities be distributed? Which norms do the responsibilities shape? In this regard, with the questions first, the study is told about Liberal theory, English School, Critical theory, and Green theory based on universalism- particularism which is the important argument of International Ethics. While Liberal theory transforms regimes to governance and human rights, the division between international society and World society by English School, universal ethics and harm principle by Critical theory, and criticism of growth and planetary ethics by Green theory are evaluated. Second, the transformation of the global climate regime is analyzed. In post-Paris, nonstate actors have increased their efficiency and transnational governance has been argued. During this period efficiency of transnational corporations and attitudes towards state and society have drawn attention. Third, the responsibilities of corporations that have high rates of greenhouse gases ordered by international society are discussed. The corporations have been trying to lobby states and to apply with different public opinion. In context, Volkswagen's emission crisis is analyzed. In this crisis, it was discovered that legitimacy and strong institutions and society are important. This thesis aims to point out that multinational corporations as a non-state actor are an influential actor in the transformation of the norm of responsibility in the issue of climate change. Keywords: ethics, global climate change, global climate regime, transnational corporations, corporate social responsibility