chapter 2 environmental sustainability and human values
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Environmental Sustainability Environmental Sustainability
and Human Valuesand Human Values
Sustainability & The Sustainability & The CommonsCommons Garrett HardinGarrett Hardin
““The Tragedy of the Commons”The Tragedy of the Commons” Sharing common Sharing common
resourcesresources Resource collapseResource collapse
Happening with global Happening with global commons todaycommons today
Stewardship: shared Stewardship: shared responsibilityresponsibility
Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development Economic growth that:Economic growth that:
Meets needs of the presentMeets needs of the present Does not compromise futureDoes not compromise future
Meets needs of world’s poorMeets needs of world’s poor Can occur only within Can occur only within
limits of the limits of the environmentenvironment
Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development
Sustainable ConsumptionSustainable Consumption Using goods and services for our needsUsing goods and services for our needs Minimizes use of resourcesMinimizes use of resources Eliminate consumption overpopulationEliminate consumption overpopulation
Sustainable ConsumptionSustainable Consumption
Requires eradication of povertyRequires eradication of poverty Poor will need to Poor will need to increaseincrease
consumption: why?consumption: why? Will require Will require
major lifestyle major lifestyle changeschanges
Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics Application of ethical standards to Application of ethical standards to
environmental questionsenvironmental questions Based on values, which changeBased on values, which change Consider people today and in the Consider people today and in the
futurefuture Involves many Involves many
tradeoffstradeoffs
Environmental WorldviewsEnvironmental Worldviews Helps us make sense of: Helps us make sense of:
How the environment worksHow the environment works Our place in the environmentOur place in the environment Right and wrong behaviorsRight and wrong behaviors
Two extremesTwo extremes WesternWestern Deep ecologyDeep ecology
Western WorldviewWestern Worldview Expansionist; frontier attitudeExpansionist; frontier attitude Human-centered, utilitarianHuman-centered, utilitarian Exploit natureExploit nature Accumulate wealthAccumulate wealth
Deep Ecology WorldviewDeep Ecology Worldview Based on harmony with natureBased on harmony with nature Spiritual respect for lifeSpiritual respect for life All species are equalAll species are equal Requires radical shift in Requires radical shift in
modern thinkingmodern thinking Need for population Need for population
controlcontrol
Voluntary SimplicityVoluntary Simplicity How should you live?How should you live? Material wealth not required for Material wealth not required for
happinesshappiness Values and character importantValues and character important How can you make How can you make
changes?changes?
Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice Right of everyone to protection from Right of everyone to protection from
environmental harmenvironmental harm Moral sense of fairness & equalityMoral sense of fairness & equality Who is exposed to the most Who is exposed to the most
pollutants?pollutants? Where are many Where are many
landfills and toxic landfills and toxic waste facilities waste facilities located?located?
A Plan Is NeededA Plan Is Needed Carrying capacityCarrying capacity
Maximum population that can be Maximum population that can be sustainedsustained
What is our carrying capacity?What is our carrying capacity? Human population Human population
must be stabilizedmust be stabilized Overconsumption must Overconsumption must
stop stop
DevelopmentDevelopment Goal: improve quality of human lifeGoal: improve quality of human life Unequal distribution of resourcesUnequal distribution of resources Many live on less than Many live on less than
$2 per day$2 per day How can this problem be How can this problem be
solved?solved? What can you do?What can you do?
Education Is Key!Education Is Key!
Public must be awarePublic must be aware Support for environmental educationSupport for environmental education Need for more Need for more
trained trained professionalsprofessionals
Biodiversity & UsBiodiversity & Us
Biodiversity: variety of living Biodiversity: variety of living organismsorganisms
Humans are part of Earth’s web of Humans are part of Earth’s web of lifelife
What does biodiversity do for us?What does biodiversity do for us? Ecosystem Ecosystem
servicesservices
Protecting BiodiversityProtecting Biodiversity
Much biodiversity is in the Much biodiversity is in the developing worlddeveloping world
Need for more scientistsNeed for more scientists Proper management of Proper management of
landland EveryEvery country needs country needs
a plan a plan
Where Do We Start?Where Do We Start? Individuals matter!Individuals matter!
Simple, small changes; reduce Simple, small changes; reduce consumptionconsumption
There is no “away”There is no “away” National levelNational level
Commitment to Commitment to sustainabilitysustainability
Know your leadersKnow your leaders
What Does The Future Hold?What Does The Future Hold? How do you want to live?How do you want to live? Most people need to reconnect with Most people need to reconnect with
the environmentthe environment More to life More to life
than than technologytechnology
Case Study: World SummitsCase Study: World Summits 1992: Rio de Janeiro1992: Rio de Janeiro
Focus on international Focus on international environmental issuesenvironmental issues
Goal: sustainable developmentGoal: sustainable development 2002: Johannesburg2002: Johannesburg
Assess progressAssess progress Little success: Little success:
why?why? Goal: reduce Goal: reduce
povertypoverty
““The test of our progress is not The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the whether we add more to the
abundance of those who have abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too enough for those who have too
little.”little.”
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1937Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1937