Generational accountability of the global commons

This paper analyses the generational accountability of the global commons, grounded in an environmental ethical responsibility framework heuristic of analysis of the responses by key institutional actors affecting, and affected by, the BP Gulf of Mexico Oil spill (“GOMOS”). An environmental ethical responsibility heuristic framework analyses various ethical dimensions of the GOMOS in terms of (i) who matters (deontological), what matters (consequential), (ii) who matters (deontological) and (iii) why does it matter (ecological) ethical perspectives on generational accountability. The framework is applied (i) identify conflicting ethical responsibility stances of major institutional actors; (ii) analyse the subsequent evolution of their positions in the subsequent decade to GOMOS. The evolving positions of the key actors in the decade subsequent to the GOMOS is then analysed using multiple research methods. The agenda was dominated by key powerful actors within the US frame of reference. However, the interests of other local Mexican coastal communities outside this frame whose lives and habitats were permanently damaged by the event and to future generations were ignored. The study’s findings have social implications about motives facing key institutional actors to influence the rights of future generations’ entitlements to the global commons.