Environmental Worldviews, Ethics, and Sustainability

Key Concepts  Environmental Worldviews  Ethical guidelines  Sustainable living

Worldviews  Environmental worldviews  Individual-centered worldview  Earth-centered worldview  Human-centered worldview  Life-centered worldview  Ecosystem-centered worldview

Biosphere- or Earth-centered More holistic Biocentric (life-centered) Anthropocentric (human-centered) Self-centered Instrumental values play bigger role Intrinsic values play bigger role Planetary management Stewardship Environmental wisdom More atomistic Ecosystem-centered Environmental Worldviews

Planetary Management As the planet’s most important species, we are in charge of the earth. Because of our ingenuity and technology we will not run out of resources. The potential for economic growth is essentially unlimited. Our success depends on how well we manage the earth’s life-support systems mostly for our benefit Environmental Wisdom Nature exists for all species and we are not in charge of the earth. Resources are limited, should not be wasted, and are not all for us. We should encourage earth- sustaining forms of economic growth and discourage earth degrading forms. Our success depends on learning how the earth sustains itself and integrating such lessons from nature into the ways we think and act Stewardship We are the planet’s most important species but we have an ethical responsibility to care for the rest of nature. We will probably not run out of resources, but they should not be wasted. We should encourage environmentally beneficial forms of economic growth and discourage environmentally harmful forms. Our success depends on how well we manage the earth’s life-support systems for our benefit and for the rest of nature Environmental Worldviews

Planetary Management Worldview  Humans are the most important species  Manage Earth for our benefit  Industrial-consumer societies  Nature has instrumental value

Planetary Management: Variations  No-problem school  Free-market school  Responsible planetary management school  Spaceship-Earth school  Stewardship school

Life-Centered Worldviews  Humans should not cause the premature extinction of species  Protect species endangered by human activities  Protect species because of their intrinsic value

Biosphere Biodiversity (Earth's genes, species, and ecosystems) Ecosystems All species on earth All animal species All individuals of an animal species Nation Community and friends Family All people Self

Earth-Centered Worldviews  Ecocentric worldview  Emphasis on preserving functioning ecosystems  Humans are part of ecological processes

Environmental Wisdom Worldview  Humans are part of nature  We are not in charge of the biosphere  Live sustainably by mimicking nature  Human success depends on learning how Earth systems work and applying what we learn  Deep Ecology

The Truth “… you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to… depend greatly on our own point of view.” Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars, ROTJ

Ethical Principles  Universalism  Utilitarianism  Consequentialism  Relativism  Rationalism  Nihilism  Universalism  Utilitarianism  Consequentialism  Relativism  Rationalism  Nihilism

Values  Instrumental (utilitarian) value  Intrinsic (inherent) value  Anthropocentric worldview  Biocentric worldview

Living More Sustainably  Develop respect for all living things  Understand our impacts on the biosphere  Develop critical thinking skills  Evaluate our worldviews and lifestyles  Understand nature and apply its lessons  Strive to make the world a better place

Biosphere and Ecosystems Help sustain the earth’s natural capital and biodiversity Do the least possible environmental harm when altering nature Species and Cultures Avoid premature extinction of any species mostly by protecting and restoring its habitat Avoid premature extinction of any human culture Individual Responsibility Do not inflict unnecessary suffering or pain on any animal Use no more of the earth’s resources than you need. Living More Sustainably

Solutions Developing Environmentally Sustainable Societies GuidelinesStrategies Leave world in as good a shape as—or better than—we found it Do not degrade or deplete the earth's natural capital, and live off the natural income it provides Copy nature Take no more than we need Do not reduce biodiversity Try not to harm life, air, water, soil Do not change the world's climate Help maintain the earth's capacity for self- repair Do not overshoot the earth's carrying capacity Repair past ecological damage Sustain biodiversity Eliminate poverty Develop eco-economies Build sustainable communities Do not use renewable resources faster than nature can replace them Use sustainable agriculture Depend more on locally available renewable energy from the sun, wind, flowing water, and sustainable biomass Emphasize pollution prevention and waste reduction Do not waste matter and energy resources Recycle, reuse, and compost 60–80% of matter resources Maintain a human population size such that needs are met without threatening life- support systems Emphasize ecological restoration

Environmental Education  Where do goods I consume come from?  What do I know about this place where I live?  How am I connected to the Earth and all other living things?  What is my purpose and my responsibility as a human being?

Environmental Revolutions  Biodiversity protection  Efficiency revolution  Solar-hydrogen revolution  Pollution protection  Sufficiency revolution  Demographic revolution  Economic/political environmental revolution