Environmental Worldviews, Ethics, and SustainabilityEnvironmental Worldviews, Ethics, and Sustainability

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

Environmental WorldviewsEnvironmental Worldviews

Ethical guidelinesEthical guidelines

Sustainable livingSustainable living

WorldviewsWorldviews

Environmental worldviewsEnvironmental worldviews

Individual-centered worldviewIndividual-centered worldview

Earth-centered worldviewEarth-centered worldview

Human-centered worldviewHuman-centered worldview

Life-centered worldviewLife-centered worldview

Ecosystem-centered worldviewEcosystem-centered worldview

Biosphere- or Earth-centeredMore holistic

Biocentric(life-centered)

Anthropocentric(human-centered)

Self-centered

Instrumental values play bigger role

Intrinsic values play bigger role

Planetarymanagement

Stewardship

Environmental wisdom

More atomistic

Ecosystem-centered

Environmental WorldviewsEnvironmental Worldviews

Planetary ManagementPlanetary Management

• As the planet’s most important species, we are in charge of the earth.

• Because of our ingenuity and technology we will not run out of resources.

• The potential for economic growth is essentially unlimited.

• Our success depends on how well we manage the earth’s life-support systems mostly for our benefit

Environmental WisdomEnvironmental Wisdom

• Nature exists for all species and we are not in charge of the earth.

• Resources are limited, should not be wasted, and are not all for us.

• We should encourage earth- sustaining forms of economic growth and discourage earth degrading forms.

• Our success depends on learning how the earth sustains itself and integrating such lessons from nature into the ways we think and act

StewardshipStewardship

• We are the planet’s most important species but we have an ethical responsibility to care for the rest of nature.

• We will probably not run out of resources, but they should not be wasted. • We should encourage environmentally beneficial forms of economic growth and discourage environmentally harmful forms.

• Our success depends on how well we manage the earth’s life-support systems for our benefit and for the rest of nature

Environmental Worldviews

Planetary Management WorldviewPlanetary Management Worldview

Humans are the most important species

Humans are the most important species

Manage Earth for our benefit Manage Earth for our benefit

Industrial-consumer societies Industrial-consumer societies

Nature has instrumental value Nature has instrumental value

Planetary Management: Variations Planetary Management: Variations

No-problem school No-problem school

Free-market school Free-market school

Responsible planetary management school

Responsible planetary management school

Spaceship-Earth school Spaceship-Earth school

Stewardship school Stewardship school

Life-Centered WorldviewsLife-Centered Worldviews

Humans should not cause the premature extinction of species

Humans should not cause the premature extinction of species

Protect species endangered by human activities

Protect species endangered by human activities

Protect species because of their intrinsic value

Protect species because of their intrinsic value

Biosphere

Biodiversity(Earth's genes, species,

and ecosystems)

Ecosystems

All species on earth

All animal species

All individualsof an animal species

Nation

Community and friends

Family

All people

Self

Earth-Centered WorldviewsEarth-Centered Worldviews

Ecocentric worldview Ecocentric worldview

Emphasis on preserving functioning ecosystems

Emphasis on preserving functioning ecosystems

Humans are part of ecological processes

Humans are part of ecological processes

Environmental Wisdom WorldviewEnvironmental Wisdom Worldview

Humans are part of nature Humans are part of nature

We are not in charge of the biosphere We are not in charge of the biosphere

Live sustainably by mimicking nature Live sustainably by mimicking nature

Human success depends on learning how Earth systems work and applying what we learn

Human success depends on learning how Earth systems work and applying what we learn

Deep Ecology Deep Ecology

The TruthThe Truth

“… you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to… depend greatly on our own point of view.” Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars, ROTJ

Ethical PrinciplesEthical Principles

Universalism Utilitarianism Consequentialism Relativism Rationalism Nihilism

Universalism Utilitarianism Consequentialism Relativism Rationalism Nihilism

ValuesValues

Instrumental (utilitarian) value Instrumental (utilitarian) value

Intrinsic (inherent) value Intrinsic (inherent) value

Anthropocentric worldview Anthropocentric worldview

Biocentric worldview Biocentric worldview

Living More SustainablyLiving More Sustainably

Develop respect for all living things Develop respect for all living things

Understand our impacts on the biosphere Understand our impacts on the biosphere

Develop critical thinking skills Develop critical thinking skills

Evaluate our worldviews and lifestyles Evaluate our worldviews and lifestyles

Understand nature and apply its lessons Understand nature and apply its lessons

Strive to make the world a better place Strive to make the world a better place

Biosphere and Ecosystems

Help sustain the earth’s natural capital and biodiversity

Do the least possible environmental harm when altering nature

Species and Cultures

Avoid premature extinction of any species mostly by protecting and restoring its habitat

Avoid premature extinction of any human culture

Individual Responsibility

Do not inflict unnecessary suffering or pain on any animal

Use no more of the earth’s resources than you need.

Living More SustainablyLiving More Sustainably

Solutions

Developing Environmentally Sustainable Societies

Guidelines Strategies

Leave world in as good a shape as—or better than—we found it

Do not degrade or deplete the earth's natural capital, and live off the natural income it provides

Copy nature

Take no more than we need

Do not reduce biodiversity

Try not to harm life, air, water, soil

Do not change the world's climate

Help maintain the earth's capacity for self-repair

Do not overshoot the earth's carrying capacity

Repair past ecological damage

Sustain biodiversity

Eliminate poverty

Develop eco-economies

Build sustainable communities

Do not use renewable resources faster than nature can replace them

Use sustainable agriculture

Depend more on locally available renewable energy from the sun, wind, flowing water, and sustainable biomass

Emphasize pollution prevention and waste reduction

Do not waste matter and energy resources

Recycle, reuse, and compost 60–80% of matter resources

Maintain a human population size such that needs are met without threatening life-support systems

Emphasize ecologicalrestoration

Environmental EducationEnvironmental Education

Where do goods I consume come from? Where do goods I consume come from?

What do I know about this place where I live?

What do I know about this place where I live?

How am I connected to the Earth and all other living things?

How am I connected to the Earth and all other living things?

What is my purpose and my responsibility as a human being?

What is my purpose and my responsibility as a human being?

Environmental RevolutionsEnvironmental Revolutions Biodiversity protection Biodiversity protection

Efficiency revolution Efficiency revolution

Solar-hydrogen revolution Solar-hydrogen revolution

Pollution protection Pollution protection

Sufficiency revolution Sufficiency revolution

Demographic revolution Demographic revolution

Economic/political environmental revolution Economic/political environmental revolution