FOUNDED 1895 • THE NATION’S OLDEST COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL NEWSPAPER
Volume CLII — No. III
record.pingry.org
Monday, February 23, 2026
ETHICS IN ACTION Values in a Changing Climate
AMELIA LIU (V)
credits are tradable tokens that
their commercial potential.
Chen’s company, after ethical
from clubs including Green
companies can purchase to offset
Second, Mr. Chen presented
and climate considerations,
Key, Honor Board, Student
The John Hanly Lecture
their greenhouse gas emissions.
two ethical dilemmas that his
decided to purchase these credits.
Government, and Economics
Series on Ethics and Morality,
After graduating from Pingry, Mr.
company faced that occurred
Lastly, Mr. Chen provided a
HIRT were invited to an open Q&A
established in 1999 in honor of
Chen earned a Bachelor of Science
when they had to decide whether
framework for every student to
session in the O’Connor Board
former Headmaster John Hanly,
and a Master of Engineering
to purchase carbon credits from a
make future decisions, focusing
Room. Here, Mr. Chen expanded
emphasizes the importance of
from MIT and later an MBA
specific organization. In the first
on our values — the fundamental
on his experiences and offered
making thoughtful decisions within
from Harvard Business School.
example, a reforestation project
beliefs that make up how we live
additional advice on making
an ethical framework. During Mr.
In his talk, Mr. Chen acknowledged
in Cambodia offered credits to
our day-to-day lives. To start,
ethical decisions. For example,
Hanly’s tenure as headmaster,
the uncertainty many people face
expand a climate offset project.
we focus on what first comes to
when asked whether he’d ever
he was committed to upholding
about the future, especially for
While the project appeared
mind when we think about values.
made a decision that served his
the Honor Code and, famously,
high school students. To address
environmentally beneficial, it
Then, we should look beyond
personal interests but conflicted
created the student organization
this issue, he offered three key
would have expanded into
ourselves to people we view as
with his intrinsic values, Mr.
now known as the Honor Board
pieces of advice. First, he used an
indigenous land without previous
“heroes” or “anti-heroes” and
Chen explained that at a previous
and the popular Ethical Dilemma
image of a tree to demonstrate that
consultation. Ultimately, they
examine why we agree or disagree
company, while he had a financial
course. This series was created
careers aren’t linear and oftentimes
chose not to purchase the credits,
with their behavior. Lastly, the
incentive to stay, disagreements
upon his retirement and invites
involve many ups and downs.
concluding the environmental
framework extends to long-
with the company’s CEO over
annual speakers to discuss integrity
Citing his personal experience
gains did not outweigh the
held traditions, including those
social and cultural challenges that
and how to live honorable lives.
in the job market, Mr. Chen
harm to indigenous groups.
articulated by philosophers and
conflicted with his values ultimately
The 2026 Hanly Lecture was
explained how he became involved
The second dilemma involved
in religious texts. After combining
led to his decision to leave.
held on Tuesday, January 20.
in climate change remediation.
carbon credits from coal mines.
the values from ourselves, others,
Thanks to Mr. Chen’s talk and
This year’s speaker, Mr. Mark
After his seventh-grade son
Purchasing these credits could
and religious traditions, the
Q&A session, discussions spread
Chen ‘96, is the founder and CEO
asked him for carbon credits for
have improved mining conditions
framework promises that we
throughout the Upper School as
of CNaught, a company that sells
Christmas, Mr. Chen became
and short-term benefits, but it
will have concrete snippets of
students considered their own
high-quality carbon credits to
inspired to research these unique
also potentially perpetuated long-
information helpful for our futures.
values and reflected on Mr. Chen’s
companies worldwide. Carbon
products and quickly recognized
term risks from coal mining. Dr.
After Mr. Chen’s talk, students
ethical decisions and advice.
Photo Credits: Pingry Communications