Environmental Value Systems What is environmental science Environmental

Environmental Value Systems

What is environmental science? • Environmental Science is the study of the interaction between humans and the environment • The environment includes all the conditions that surround living organisms • Abiotic – non-living: air, climate, water, soil • Biotic- living: animals, plants, bacteria

Agree, Disagree, Don’t know • Humans are a part of nature • Humans are to blame for all the world’s problems • We depend on the environment for our resources (wood, fuel, water) • Nomadic and indigenous people live in balance with their environment • Traditional farming methods do not damage the environment • Nature will make good any damage that humans do to the environment

Agree, Disagree, Don’t know • Humans have every right to use all resources on the planet earth • Technology will solve our energy crisis • We have passed the tipping point on climate change and the earth is warming up and we can’t stop it • Animals and plants have as much right to live on earth as humans • Looking at a beautiful view is not as important as economic progress • Species have always become extinct on Earth and so it does not matter that humans are causing it

What is an environmental value system? • Different societies have different environmental philosophies • Understanding them helps understand the policy choices of the country • Influenced by cultural, religious, economic and socio-political contexts • The environment can have its own intrinsic value regardless of its value to mankind

TOK Moment • What do these words mean? • Environment • Natural • Nature

Key Theme • Science and Values • Need to understand both to solve environmental problems • Know scientific data and understand its implications using the precautionary principle • Justifications for valuing the environment • • Utilitarian – survival and economic value Ecological – individual species and systems Aesthetic – the beauty of nature Recreational - ecotourism Inspirational – the earth is the temple Creative – inspiration for art and music Moral – ideas of right vs. wrong Cultural – different cultures value environment differently

Categories of Environmental Value Systems • Eccocentric • Ecology and nature is central to humanity • Less materialistic and more self sufficient • Respects the rights of nature and the dependence of humans on nature • Anthropocentric • Humans must sustainably manage the global system • Use taxes, regulations and legislation • Nature is there to benefit mankind • Technocentric • Technological advancements can solve environmental problems

Environmental Value Groups • Cornucopians • • World have an infinite amount of resources to benefit mankind Through technology and inventiveness we can solve all world problems Capitalism and little regulation are best Earth is a ship and humans are the captains • Environmental managers • A stewardship world view…we must tend to the garden that is the earth • Government and legislation must protect the earth • Ecocentric • Views above are too simplistic…we don’t know enough about the environment • No way for everyone to get to the same standard of living with the supplies we have

Environmental Value Groups • Biocentric • Preserve ecological integrity and complexity of systems and life will thrive • Humans have an ethical responsibility to the environment • • • Earth is for all species Resources are limited Growth should be managed Work with earth, not against it We need earth more than it needs us • Deep Ecologists • More value on nature than humans • Goal is to decrease human population and our impact on nature

Environmental Worldviews • Communism and capitalism in Germany • Great case study because of the Berlin Wall • Communism – very little regulation of pollution and old technology led to greater pollution BUT protected the interests of fisherman and farmers…some polluting factories were shut down during peak growing periods • Capitalism - new technology limited pollution but capitalism led to greater consumption of resources

Environmental Worldviews • Native Americans • Communal property and subsistence living • Group decision making • Plants, animals and natural objects have spirituality

Environmental Worldviews Christianity Islam

Environmental Worldviews • Buddhism • Every living thing is codependent • Humans are not more important than any other living thing (plant or animal)

Key Theme • Humans and nature are intimately connected • Success for one involves success for the other • Dependence upon the environment for human existence and economies

Key Theme • Humans alter natural environments • Convert land from its natural state into urban, suburban and agricultural areas • Change the chemistry of air, water and soil • Have global impacts – Gaia hypothesis

Key Theme • Human Population Growth • Human population has more than doubled in the last 40 years – over 7. 4 billion • As human populations increase competition for limited resources increase • Famine, war, disease and increased environmental damage

Key Theme • Carrying Capacity and Sustainability • Maximum number of humans earth can support • Currently using resources faster than they can be replenishes • Must work to develop sustainability • Scientific – resources and ecosystems • Economic – growth and development

SUSTAINABILITY

Definition • Living within the means of nature • The use and management of resources in a way that allows the full natural replacement and the full recovery of the ecosystem affected by their extraction and use • Sustainable development • Meets the need of the present without compromising the future • A culture that survives by depleting natural resources is unsustainable

World Resource Stats • 60% of the world ecosystems have been degraded • 25% of the earth’s land has been cultivated • 40 -50% of all freshwater is used • 25% of all fish stocks are overharvested • 20% of all coral has been lost and 20% has been degraded

Ecological Overshoot • The point where the use of the resources is unsustainable • Measured as a calendar day

• Socio-economic • Gross domestic product • Life expectancy • Gender parity • Ecological • Air quality • Water quality • Environmental vulnerability Sustainability Indicators

Natural Income • Money generated by natural capital • Money from timber Natural Capital • Goods and services that the environment provides humans • The actual timber • Services such as erosion control and recycling

• A report prepared before the start of a project that would change the use of the land • Part of the 1969 National Environmental Protection Act • Weighs the advantages and disadvantages • Looks at • • Microclimate Biodiversity Scenic value Amenity value • Evaluates the current environment and predicts what the environment will be after development • Includes impacts on human populations • Precautionary principle in effect! • Used for • • • New roads Airport/port development Power stations Dams and reservoirs Mining/oil extraction Large scale housing projects Environmental Impact Assessments

Environmental Impact Assessments • Parts of an EIA • Identify the impacts • Predict the scale of potential impacts • Devise way to limit the impact • Weaknesses of the EIA • Different countries have different standards • Hard to identify the indirect impacts • Very expensive and somewhat subjective

Ecological Footprint • What does it tell us? • How do we calculate it? • http: //myfootprint. org • How do we reduce it?