Chapter 25 Environmental Worldviews, Ethics, and Sustainability

1. Chapter 25 Environmental Worldviews, Ethics, and Sustainability

2. Core Case Study: Biosphere 2—A Lesson in Humility • 1991: Biosphere 2 • Constructed near Tucson, AZ, U.S. • Designed to mimic the earth’s natural chemical recycling systems • Many problems • Some successes

3. Biosphere 2—Designed to Be a Self-Sustaining Life-Support System Fig. 25-1, p. 661

4. 25-1 What Are Some Major Environmental Worldviews? • Concept 25-1 Major environmental worldviews differ on which is more important—human needs and wants, or the overall health of ecosystems and the biosphere.

5. What Is an Environmental Worldview? • Environmental worldviews • How people think the world works and what they think their role should be • Human-centered: anthropocentric • Life-centered: biocentric • Environmental ethics • Beliefs about behavior is right and what behavior is wrong in regards to the environment

6. Comparison of Three Major Environmental Worldviews Fig. 25-2, p. 663

7. E n v i r o n m e n t a l W o r l d v i e w s Planetary Management Stewardship Environmental Wisdom We have an ethical responsibility to be caring managers, or stewards, of the earth. We are apart from the rest of nature and can manage nature to meet our increasing needs and wants. We are a part of and totally dependent on nature, and nature exists for all species. We will probably not run out of resources, but they should not be wasted. Resources are limited and should not be wasted. Because of our ingenuity and technology, we will not run out of resources. We should encourage earth- sustaining forms of economic growth and discourage earth- degrading forms. We should encourage environmentally beneficial forms of economic growth and discourage environmentally harmful forms. The potential for economic growth is essentially unlimited. Our success depends on learning how nature sustains itself and integrating such lessons from nature into the ways we think and act. Our success depends on how well we manage the earth's life- support systems mostly for our benefit. Our success depends on how well we manage the earth's life- support systems for our benefit and for the rest of nature. Fig. 25-2, p. 663

8. Environmental Worldviews Environmental Wisdom Stewardship Planetary Management ■ We have an ethical responsibility to be caring managers, or stewards, of the earth. ■ We are a part of and totally dependent on nature, and nature exists for all species. ■ We are apart from the rest of nature and can manage nature to meet our increasing needs and wants. ■ We will probably not run out of resources, but they should not be wasted. ■ Resources are limited and should not be wasted. ■ Because of our ingenuity and technology, we will not run out of resources. ■ We should encourage earth- sustaining forms of economic growth and discourage earth-degrading forms. ■ We should encourage environmentally beneficial forms of economic growth and discourage environmentally harmful forms. ■ The potential for economic growth is essentially unlimited. ■ Our success depends on learning how nature sustains itself and integrating such lessons from nature into the ways we think and act. ■ Our success depends on how well we manage the earth's life- support systems mostly for our benefit. ■ Our success depends on how well we manage the earth's life- support systems for our benefit and for the rest of nature. Stepped Art Fig. 25-2, p. 663

9. Environmental Worldviews Lie on a Continuum—from Self- to Earth-Centered Fig. 25-3, p. 663

10. Biosphere- or Earth-centered Ecosystem-centered Biocentric (life-centered) Anthropocentric (human-centered) Self-centered Planetary management Stewardship Environmental wisdom Fig. 25-3, p. 663

11. Most People Have Human-Centered Environmental Worldviews • Two human-centered worldviews • Planetary management worldview • No-problem school • Free-market school • Spaceship-earth school • Stewardship worldview

12. Can We Manage the Earth? • Criticism of the human-centered worldviews • Is this supported by the failure of Biosphere 2?

13. Sequoia National Park Fig. 25-4, p. 664

14. Some People Have Life-Centered and Earth-Centered Environmental Worldviews • Inherent or intrinsic value of all forms of life • Instrumental value of each species: potential economic value • Environmental wisdom worldview

15. Levels of Ethical Concerns Fig. 25-5, p. 665

16. Biosphere Biodiversity (Earth's genes, species, and ecosystems) Ecosystems All species on earth All animal species All individuals of an animal species All people Nation Community and friends Family Self Fig. 25-5, p. 665

17. The Earth Flag: Symbol of Commitment to Promoting Environmental Sustainability Fig. 25-6, p. 665

18. 25-2 What Is the Role of Education in Living More Sustainably? • Concept 25-2 The first step to living more sustainably is to become environmentally literate, primarily by learning from nature.

19. How Can We Become More Environmentally Literate? • Three foundations of environmental literacy • Natural capital matters • Our ecological footprints are immense and growing rapidly • Ecological and climate tipping points: irreversible and should never be crossed • Environmental literacy requires answering key questions and having basic understanding of key topics

20. Components of Environmental Literacy Fig. 25-7, p. 667

21. Questions to answer Components Basic concepts: sustainability, natural capital, exponential growth, carrying capacity How does life on earth sustain itself? How am I connected to the earth and other living things? Three principles of sustainablility Where do the things I consume come from and where do they go after I use them? Environmental history What is environmental wisdom? The two laws of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter What is my environmental worldview? Basic principles of ecology: food webs, nutrient cycling, biodiversity, ecological succession What is my environmental responsibility as a human being? Population dynamics Sustainable agriculture and forestry Soil conservation Sustainable water use Nonrenewable mineral resources Nonrenewable and renewable energy resources Climate disruption and ozone depletion Pollution prevention and waste reduction Environmentally sustainable economic and political systems Environmental worldviews and ethics Fig. 25-7, p. 667

22. Can We Learn from the Earth? • Formal environmental education • Ecological, aesthetic, and spiritual values of nature • Environmental words of wisdom • Stephen Jay Gould • Mahatma Gandhi

23. Learn to Appreciate Nature Fig. 25-8, p. 667

24. Individuals Matter: Aldo Leopold’s Environmental Ethics • Humans should protect nature, not conquer it • Helped found U.S. Wilderness Society • Leader of conservation/environmental movements • “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”

25. 25-3 How Can We Live More Sustainably? • Concept 25-3 We can live more sustainably by becoming environmentally literate, learning from nature, living more simply and lightly on the earth, and becoming active environmental citizens.

26. Can We Live More Simply and Lightly on the Earth? • People want more community, not more stuff • Voluntary simplicity • Principle of enoughness, Mahatma Gandhi • Many religions teach simpler lifestyles

27. How Much Is Enough? • “What do I really need?” • What are our basic needs? • What are our qualitative needs?

28. The Sustainability Eight Fig. 25-10, p. 670

29. Food Reduce meat consumption Buy or grow organic food and buy locally grown food Transportation Reduce car use by walking, biking, carpooling, car-sharing, and using mass transit Drive an energy-efficient vehicle Home Energy Use Insulate your house, plug air leaks, and install energy- efficient windows Use energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, lights, and appliances EARTH Resource Use Reduce, reuse, recycle, compost, replant, and share Use renewable energy resources whenever possible Fig. 25-10, p. 670

30. Can We Become Better Environmental Citizens? • Avoid these mental traps • Gloom-and-doom pessimism • Blind technological optimism • Keep a positive attitude • Recognize the diversity of possible solutions • Have fun and enjoy life

31. A Vision for Sustainability • Environmental or sustainability revolution • Major cultural shifts • Environmental changes • Social changes • Technological changes • Economic changes • We can change faster than we think we can

32. Environmental/Sustainability Revolution: Cultural Shifts Fig. 25-11, p. 672

33. Current Emphasis Sustainability Emphasis Energy and Climate Direct and indirect solar energy Fossil fuels Energy waste Energy efficiency Climate disruption Climate stabilization Matter High resource use and waste Less resource use Reduce, reuse, and recycle Consume and throwaway Waste disposal and pollution control Waste prevention and pollution prevention Life Deplete and degrade natural capital Protect natural capital Reduce biodiversity Protect biodiversity Population growth Population stabilization Fig. 25-11, p. 672

34. Change Can Occur Very Rapidly Fig. 25-12, p. 672

35. Change Environmental Concerns Social Trends Economic Tools Technologies Protecting natural capital Sustaining biodiversity Repairing ecological damage Addressing climate change Reducing waste Using less Living more simply Reusing and recycling Growth of ecocities and eco-neighborhoods Environmental justice Environmental literacy Full-cost pricing Micro-lending Green subsidies Green taxes Net energy analysis Pollution prevention Organic farming Drip irrigation Solar desalinization Energy efficiency Solar energy Wind energy Geothermal energy Environmental nanotechnology Eco-industrial parks Time Fig. 25-12, p. 672

36. Three Big Ideas • Our environmental worldview plays a key role in how we treat the earth that sustains us and how we treat ourselves. • We need to become more environmentally literate about how the earth works, how we are affecting its life-support systems that keep us and other species alive, and what we can do to live more sustainably.

37. Three Big Ideas • Living more sustainably means learning from nature, living more lightly on the earth, and becoming active environmental citizens who leave small environmental footprints on the earth.