55.ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND THE MORAL ECONOMY - REIMAGINING ECONOMIC ETHICS IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CRISIS

In the wake of global climate challenges, the discourse on environmental sustainability has expanded beyond scientific and technological dimensions to include ethical, cultural, and economic frameworks. This paper explores the concept of the moral economy and its relevance to fostering environmental sustainability. The moral economy emphasizes values such as fairness, responsibility, and community well-being—qualities increasingly necessary in countering the exploitative tendencies of conventional capitalist models. Through case studies and theoretical analysis, this paper argues that embedding moral values in economic systems offers a transformative pathway toward sustainability. The paper also evaluates policies and practices that merge ecological goals with ethical imperatives, urging a redefinition of progress in light of planetary boundaries.