Environmental Ethics and Economics

OutlinePerception of EnvironmentEnvironmental EthicsEconomics

Perception of EnvironmentCulture: the ensemble of knowledge, beliefs,

values, and learned ways of life shared by a group of people

Worldview: person’s perception of the world and their place within it

FactorsReligionCommunity ExperiencePolitical IdeologyScientific Understanding

Environmental EthicsEthics: set of moral principles or values held

by a person or societystudy of good and badcriteria, standards, rules people use to make

decisionsEnvironmental ethics: application of ethical

standards to relationships between humans and nonhuman entities

Weighing the IssueDo you think that nations with larger

ecological footprints have an ethical obligation to reduce their environmental impact, so as to leave more resources available for nations with smaller footprints?

Three Ethical Perspectives

Development EthicPeople are and should be masters of

naturePrevailing ethic of American

government

Conservation & Preservation

In Response to Development Ethic

Conservation Ethic

conservation: people should put natural resources to use but they have a responsibility to manage them wisely

Preservation Ethic

preservation: people should protect the natural environment in a pristine, unaltered state

Hurricane Katrina

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvoEiBnpCc8

Environmental JusticeFair and equitable treatment of all people with

respect to environmental policy and practice, regardless of their income, race, or ethnicity.

Movement fueled by perception that poor people and minorities tend to be exposed to a greater share of pollutionhazardsenvironmental degradation

Were the events of Katrina a form of “environmental

racism”?

Slumdog Millionaire

Movie Trailerhttp://content.foxsearchlight.com/

videos/node/2954Inside Slumdog: Boyle on Destinyhttp://content.foxsearchlight.com/

videos/node/3034

An International IssueWealthy nations impose pollution on poorer

nationsMillions of tons of wasteDump in nations with lax restrictions

Basal Conventionprohibits international export of waste, trade, and

illegal dumping169 countries ratified (US, world’s largest exporter,

did not)

Ethics & Eco-nomics Is environmental policy good for the economy? Economics: study of how people decide to use

scarce resources to provide goods and services in the face of demand for them

Environmental problem = Economic problem Pollution - depletion of scarce resources (clean air,

water, or soil)

Ethics & Eco-nomics Economy: social system that converts

resources into goods, material commodities manufactured for and bought by individuals and businesses; and services, work done for others as a form of business

Economy & the Environment

Economies exist within the environment inputs from the

environments discharge outputs (waste)

into environment Natural resources are

“goods” produced by the environment

Environment supports economy.

Ecosystem services: essential services that support economic activity i.e. cycling nutrients,

purifying air and water

Economy Environment

Millenium Ecosystem Assessment

15 of 24 ecosystem services are being used unsustainably

Negative impact on economyHarming poor people more than wealthyRestoring ecosystem services ->

primary avenue for alleviating poverty

Neoclassical Economics Can have implications for the environment 4 Assumptions

1. Resources are infinite or substitutable1. Was this true for the Easter Islanders?

2. Costs and benefits are internal (buyer and seller)3. Long term effects should be discounted4. Growth is good

Is growth good? Is “more and bigger” always better? US frenzy of consumption due to:

advertising technology availability of goods (global trade)

affluenza: the way material goods fail to bring contentment to people affluent enough to afford them

Is economic growth like cancer?

Market Failure & Ecolabeling

When markets do not reflect the full costs and benefits of actions

Economists contrive ways to use aspects of the market to counteract market failure Ex: labels showing how the products were grown, harvested,

or manufactured Promote socially responsible purchasing and

investing