1.01 Environmental Value systems Flashcards
Environmental Value System (EVS)
Particular worldview or set of paradigms that shapes the way individuals or societies perceive and evaluate environmental issues.
Contexts that influence your EVS
Cultural, economical and sociopolitical contexts
Greenpeace
(1971) an organisation that campaigns for the environment and taking care of natural resources. Recognized as a major actor in the environmental movement.
Chernobyl disaster
Nuclear disaster in 1986 in Chernobyl where an emergency shutdown fail led to an explosion. It spread awareness about the safety of nuclear power which is to this day a hot debate topic. In many countries its development slowed down or stopped after the incident. It’s an example of how historical events influence our EVSs.
Three general categories of EVSs
Ecocentric, anthropocentric and technocentric
An ecocentric value system
it’s a value system that is nature centered. People are under natures control rather then the other way around. There is a limited amount of resources and we should try to keep are disturbance of nature to a minimum. Humans need to change their behavior in case of an ecological deficit.
An anthropocentric value system
A human centered value system. The human is the most important and nature is for them. They assess the environment from a human perspective and see the world as a garden that we take care of. (Environmental managers)
A technocentric value system
A technology based value system. The brain power of humans allows us to control the environment. Scientific evolution to keep up with climate change rather than changing our behaviors. We are able to solve the problem. Economic growth is of importance.
Deep ecologists, What do they believe?
- Population need to change its behavior
- Nature is of big importance to humanity
- Ecological law should dictate humans
- Bio rights (rights of endangered species/landscapes)
- No trust in government and institutions
- Materialistic want and economical growth should be geared to only providing basic needs.
Soft Ecologists, what do they believe?
- Resources are limited
- Earth is for all living
- Small scale changes make a difference (individuals)
- No trust in government and institutions
- Materialistic want and economical growth should be geared to only providing basic needs.
Environmental managers, What do they believe?
- Economic growth and resource exploitation can continue if:
- adjust taxes, fix legal rights at a minimum level of environmental quality and compensate those affected by climate change
- If we take care of earth, earth will take care of us.
- Earth is a garden we tend to
Cornucopians
- There are infinite resources to benefit humans.
- Man can always find a way out of difficulties
- Optimistic, thinking man can improve the world
- Faith in scientific and political solutions to provide economic growth, health and safety
- Free market economy
Why is an EVS a system?
Because it has:
Inputs: education, experience, media influences, religious doctrines etc
Outputs: action and decisions by processing inputs like any other system.
Ecological deficit
When the footprint is greater than the bio-capacity of that area
Bio-capacity
Worlds (or ecosystems) ability to regenerate resources and absorb waste.
