1.1 - Enviromental Values Systems Flashcards
What does enviromental movement describe
The environmental movement is the term used to describe humanity’s increasing awareness of the importance of conserving the environmental health of our planet
What does the enviromental movement promote
The environmental movement promotes sustainable development and the sustainable use of natural resources - this can be achieved by implementing changes in public policy and encouraging changes in our individual behaviours
How did silent spring influence environmental movement
- A book outlining the harmful effects of the pesticide DDT passing along food chains to top predators
- Led to widespread concern about the dangers of pesticide use and increased awareness of environmental pollution
How did the Glasgow climate pact influence environmental movement
- At COP26, an international agreement between 197 countries was reached, which reaffirmed the Paris Agreement’s global temperature goal
- First climate deal to explicitly commit to reducing coal use - a late intervention from China and India weakened the pact’s wording to “phasing down” coal (rather than phasing it out)
How did Chernobyl influence enviromental movement
- Nuclear reactor exploded - radioactive fallout covered large areas of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia - 336,000 people had to be evacuated and cancer incidence increased in surrounding area
- Reinforced society’s fear and negative perceptions surrounding nuclear power
What is an enviromental value system
An environmental value system (EVS) is the way that an individual, or any group of people, perceives the environment and the resources it provides them with
That includes you - your environmental value system determines the way that you perceive and evaluate environmental issues, as well as the course of action you might decide to take regarding these issues
What shapes someone enviromental value system
cultural, religious, social, political, economic and environmental factors
How is the enviromental value system a system
Factors act as flows of information such as your culture then individuals then process and transform this information into their perception of the enviromental and how to act on the environmental matters
Why is an eviromental value system considered as a system
An environmental value system is considered as a system because it is determined by a set of inputs (i.e. the factors described above) and generates a set of outputs (in the form of of the person’s or group’s perceptions, evaluations, decisions and actions)
What are the 3 EVS categories
Ecocentric environmental value systems (ecocentrism)
Anthropocentric environmental value systems (anthropocentrism)
Technocentric environmental value systems (technocentrism)
What is an ecocentric
- Ecocentrism is a philosophical and ethical approach that prioritises the intrinsic value of nature and the environment over human needs and interests
- This approach emphasises that all living organisms and ecosystems have inherent worth and should be protected for their own sake
- Ecocentrism advocates for sustainable practices that maintain the balance and integrity of ecosystems and the natural world, rather than exploiting them for human benefit
- This approach is often associated with environmental movements and conservation efforts that aim to protect biodiversity, ecosystems and natural resources
What is an anthropocentric
- Anthropocentrism is a worldview that places human beings at the centre of the universe, prioritising human needs and interests over those of other living beings and the environment
- This approach emphasises that humans have the right to use natural resources and ecosystems for their own benefit
- Although an anthropocentric viewpoint would ideally involve sustainable managing global systems, in reality anthropocentrism often results in unsustainable practices such as overexploitation of natural resources, habitat destruction, and pollution
- This approach only values preserving biodiversity when it can provide economic and ecological advantages to humans
- This approach is often criticised by environmentalists and conservationists for ignoring the intrinsic value of nature and its ecosystems
What is a technocentric
- Technocentrism is a worldview that places technology and human ingenuity at the centre of all problem-solving and decision-making processes, often overlooking the impact on the environment and other living beings
- This approach emphasises the use of technology to overcome environmental problems and maintain human well-being
- Technocentrism often assumes that all environmental problems can be solved through technological innovation and economic growth, which may lead to neglect of the need for conservation and sustainability
- This approach is often criticised by environmentalists for being short-sighted and ignoring the complex and interconnected nature of environmental issues
How can the spectrum of enviromental value systems be broken down
be broken down into further categories these categories can either be extreme forms of a particular end of the EVS spectrum (such as deep ecologists and cornucopians), or they can lie somewhere between two EVSs (such as soft ecologists and environmental managers) as they contain a mixture of different values and perspectives from the three broader EVS categories
What are the 4 categories the classic three value systems can be broken down into
- deep ecologist
- soft ecologist
- enviromental managers
- cornucapoians
