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Unit 2 Theoretical basis of environmental science
Chapter 6 Environmental ethics
Professor Liu JinglingSchool of Environment, Beijing Normal University
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There are 746,000 items are searched form Google Basic principle of environmental ethics
Yang Tongjin (philosophy institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences 100732)
The serious crisis facing the human is sourced from mainstream value, which is
formed with the occurrence of civilization in modern times and has been spread
wildly. Therefore, if planning to make the human move away from the existing
dilemma, we must think and change such mainstream value. A revolutionary
change of environmental ethics, which is regarded as a fire-new ethics, lies in
trying to expand the visual field of ethics, putting natural beings except the
human into the scope of ethical concern, and using morality to regulate the
relationship between the human and the nature, while emphasizing
interpersonal equality and inter-generational equity.
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Ecological civilizationProfessor Liu Xiangrong: president of Hunan Normal
University, director ofChinese Ethics Institute, board
chairman of Professional Committee of China's
environmental philosophy. Research area:
environmental ethics.
“Ecological crisis” is not a forecast any more. It is a fact that can be directly
touched and felt for every people in the real life: safe foods, clean air, and clean
water resources, warm sunshine, suitable climate, sufficient energy, and cute
animals are away from us. The human become more and more lonely, and the life
becomes more and more vulnerable. Breaking the link with nature, just as the
human cut the umbilical core linked with mother’s blood vessels, and the
misfortune of “retention of dead fetus” is inevitable.
[email protected] School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Millennium ecosystem assessment 1360 scientist think that the outcome of the millennium ecosystem assessment
of not "healthy" for the earth is simultaneously published in the whole world www.most.gov.cn April 1, 2005, source: Science and Technology Daily
“During the past 50 years, the pace and scope of the human changing the
ecological system is unprecedented. In the future 50 years, it will be aggravated.”
Jeff•Mike Neely, the chief scientist of Union for International Nature and
Conservation of Natural Resources, issued such a warning in results conference of
millennium ecosystem assessment.
Millennium ecosystem assessment is an important international cooperation
programs to describe health status of the earth. Its objective is to supply scientific
information about the relationship between ecosystem changes and human welfare
for the decision maker. 1360 scientists from 95 countries participate in four-year
international cooperation project. During the project, it is developed a large
number of assessments at different scales of the whole world, Asia global, region,
country, and so on, and ecological results is synthesized and analyzed. Today, the
results of millennium ecosystem assessment are simultaneously published in 8
cities of Beijing, London, Washington, Tokyo, Cairo, and so on [email protected] School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
The historical development of environmental ethics The basic principles of environmental ethics Case study
Main content
[email protected] School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
References
1 、 Shi Huaize (Shi Weize), “Reverence for Life”, translate by Chen Zehuan, Shanghai social science press, 1996.
2、 Leopold "A Sand County Almanac ", translate by Hou Wenhui, economic science press, 1992.
3、 zenegger , “Animal Liberation “, translate by Meng Xiangsen and Qian Yongxiang, guangming daily edition clubs, 1999.
4、 Nash "The Rights of Nature : A History of Environmental Ethics” , translate by Yang Tongjin, Qingdao press, 1999
5、 Armstrong, S. and Botzler, R. eds, Environmental Ethics: Divergence and Convergence; New York:McGraw-Hill,1993.6、 DesJardins, J. R., Environmental Ethics: An Introduction to Environmental Philosophy ,Wadsworth Publishing Co.,1992.7、 Pojman, L. P., ed, Environmental Ethics: Readings in Theory and Application; Jones and Bartlett Publishers,1994.8、 Rolston, H., Environmental Ethics: Duties to and Values in Natural Word; Temple University Press,1988.9、 Taylor, P., Respect for Nature: A Theory of Environmental Ethics; Princeton University Press,1986.
[email protected] School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Concept discrimination
Ethics Environmental ethics Ecological environmental ethics and ecological ethics
Ecological civilization Clearly putting forward the construction of ecological civilization is a
light spot in seventeenth report. The introduction of conservation culture, followed by material civilization, spiritual civilization, and political civilization, makes the goal that building affluent society more and more distinct and the connotation more and more abundant. The relationship between the human and the nature brought into social development goal to be considered, and construction of ecological civilization are the solemn commitment to coming generations and the world by Communist Party of China.
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
The Seventeenth National Congress
Construct ecological civilization and basically form the industrial structure, growth pattern, and consumption patterns of conserving energy resources and protecting the ecological environment. Recycling economy becomes comparatively large scale, and the proportion of renewable energy sources is significantly increased. The discharge of major pollutants has been effectively controlled, and the quality of ecological environment has been obviously improved. The concept of conservation culture is firmly established in the whole society.
[email protected] School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Connotation of conservation culture
Three hundred years of industrial civilization is characterized by human conquest of nature. The development of industrialization in the world makes conquest of natural culture reach to the peak; a series of global ecological crisis illustrate the earth has no greater ability to support the continuous development of industrial civilization. It is needed to start a new form of civilization to last human survival. This is conservation culture. If agricultural civilization is “Yellow civilization”, industrial civilization is “Black civilization”, so conservation culture is “Green civilization”. Conservation culture means the sum total of material and spiritual achievements obtained when the human follow the objective laws, i.e. harmonious development among people, nature and society; means cultural ethics form considering harmonious coexistence, virtuous circle, integrated development, and continuous prosperity between peopel and nature, people and people, and people and the society as the basic purpose.
[email protected] School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
6.1 Background and development of different environmental ethics
Ethics—— Study moral science, which is the rule and responsibility followed
by the people during various kinds of social relations.
Environmental ethics——based on traditional ethics, research area is
expanded to the relationship between human and nature with dual connotation
of sociality of human existence and natural harmony.
6.1.1 Unadorned idea of “harmony between man and nature” in
ancient China
The idea of “harmony between man and nature” is generated under the
condition of low level of productivity, and human survival seriously depends on
nature. Therefore, it is a forced choice, and does not rise to a high degree of
rationality.
6.1.26.1.2 The concept of “Contradiction between man and The concept of “Contradiction between man and
earth” by Malthusearth” by Malthus It is believed that: arable land is limited; grain yield based on the growth of
arithmetic progression can not keep grow in pace with the population based
on the growth of geometric series, which will induce foods and basic means
of subsistence lower than floor level necessary for human survival and firstly
propose the idea of inhibition of growth.
6.1.3 6.1.3 AnthropocentrismAnthropocentrism
Anthropocentrism considers interests of human as the highest standards to
judge everything, advocates human conquest of nature, propose that the
human have the right to freely treat the natural for personal interests, and
thinks the progress of human civilization is established based on natural
yield.
Picture 6-2 rare plant-Mchella
liliflora DC
Picture 6-3 rare animal——
Asian elephants
Picture 6-4 beautiful homeland ——earth
6.1.4 Biocentrism
Biocentrism considers that plants and all living have the right to
subsistence and inherent value of their own, and should be given
equal respect.
6.1.5 Earth holism
It advocates not only life entity, but also air, water body, land,
rocks, natural landscape, and the whole nature have intrinsic
value and right. The representative personage is Aldo Leopold.
6.1.6 Ethics concept by Dai Jijun, et al.
It emphasizes the right between people and people is equal, and
thinks coming generations have the equal rights with
contemporary people to enjoy the natural resources and own
good environment.
6.2 Environmental ethics
Traditional moral value pays attention to human relations, and
does not realize that the nature is the source of human life, while
the people consider the nature as the objects freely obtained and
used.
Environmental ethics ask the human to establish a correct view
of nature, learn to respect, imitate, and protect nature, and get
along amiably and peacefully with the nature.
However, conservation of nature can not be one-sided
emphasized without enterprising, and then walking to other
extreme.
6.3 The environmental ethics of sustainable development
♥ Ethics core of sustainable development view is fairness and harmony.
Fair——inter-generational equity and generational equity among different regional groups
Harmony——harmony between man and nature in the global range.
Rationale of environment ethics with sustainable development:
whole value of interdependence, harmony and unity between man
and nature. The rights and obligations for the nature by the human are restricted by each other. The goal of studying environmental ethics and human development model lies in promoting harmonious evolution of the whole human-earth combined system.
6.4 Basic principles of environmental ethics
Ethics with sustainable development asks us to observe and understand the world with ecological thinking, which is considered as the standard to survey the words and deeds, i.e. treatment of the ecological environment should follow the following principles.
basic principles of environmental ethics
The principle of min harm
The principle of proportionality
The principle of coordination
The principle of moderate consumption
The principle of distributive justice
The principle of fair compensation
Justice principle Rights equality principle Cooperation principle
Figure 6-4 urban air pollution of Italy （ quoted from UNEP， Angelo Dotto, Global Environmental Outlook 3 ， 2003 ）
6.5 Sustainable development
6.5.1 Several typical development models
（ 1） Economic growth determinism
Zero-growth theory
Overoptimism
Integrated development
Evolutionary and flexible
Theory of sustainable development
6.5.2The essence of sustainable development
basic principle basic principle
sustainability principle
sustainability principle
communality principle communality principle requirement principlerequirement principlefairness principle fairness principle
economical goal economical goal Pursue quality and efficiency Pursue quality and efficiency
ecology -environment -resource goal
ecology -environment -resource goal
Emphasize for the benign circulation of system , coordinate development with
own bearing capacity
Emphasize for the benign circulation of system , coordinate development with
own bearing capacity
social goal social goal Social justice, moderate growth of population
Social justice, moderate growth of population
Sustainable development is a new development strategy, and clear that the human is one member of nature center, rather than its center. The human must get along amiably and peacefully with the nature. The differences compared to traditional development model is
Green card: the differences between sustainable development and traditional
development model
material resources-motivated material resources-motivated non-material resources-motivated non-material resources-motivated
Simply pursue economic growth Simply pursue economic growth Coordinated development of economic and social environment
Coordinated development of economic and social environment
Pay attention to local interests at present
Pay attention to local interests at present
Pay attention to long-term global interests
Pay attention to long-term global interests
material-oriented material-oriented people-oriented people-oriented
traditional development modeltraditional development model sustainable developmentsustainable development
6.5.3 Sustainable development index system
Quantitative or qualitative characterization of elements or
benefits in index system concludes two parts of the name of index
and specific values. According to index system form: Single indicator type Comprehensive index system type According to research approach: Index system based on monetization valuation theory Index system based on non- monetization valuation theory Or it can be classified as Index system constructed according to system theory and methods Index system based on monetary environment valuation Index system judged by biophysical parameters
During the index system constructed according to system theory and methods, index system of sustainable development can be divided into five layers in our country: general layer, system layer, state layer, variable layer, and essential factor layer:
five subsystems:
Live support, development support, environmental support, social support, intelligence support system.
45 variables and 244 indexes are used to comprehensively perform quantitative description of sustainable development state and the overall effect of such strategy implementation.
Green card ：Sustainable development index system
6.6 China sustainable development strategy 6.6.1 Inevitable choice for China
（ 1） The actual condition of China's development
Population load is heavy, shortage of natural resources, severe
natural disasters, deterioration of ecological environment, lack of
creativity, and so on.
（ 2） Rational choice for development model
In 1996, sustainable development is considered as the rational
choice for basic development strategy by our government, which
is in accordance with coordinated development with China's
efforts, expressing: Protect the basic needs of all people Rapidly develop economy and improve the level of per capita income Implement long-term balance and coordinated development among
population growth, economic development and resources, ecology, as well as environment
6.6.2 The development trends and challenges of Ecological and environment
(1) The development trend of natural ecological environment
China's natural ecological environment will still show
deterioration tendency for some time, the important reason is
that tremendous population pressure makes the damaged
ecological environment without any breathing space.
Year stress exponent of ecological environment
（％）
Year stress exponent of ecological environment
（％）
1995 100 2020 138.0
2000 110.5 2030 120.0
2010 124.0 2050 106.0
Table 6-1 Stress forecast of future ecological environment
Notes: quoted from China sustainable development strategy Strategy Paper, 2003
（ 2） Development trend of environmental pollutionAir pollution: energy resource structure based on coal-fired induces serious acid rain pollution; Smoke, dust, vehicle exhaust pollution and 4 sandstorms source areas in the northern part of the country induce dust pollution, leading to air pollution situation very serious.Water pollution: mainly from discharge of industrial wastewater, the contradiction between prevention and cure of water pollution and industrial development is outstanding. It is difficult to fundamentally solve the lag case of pollution control.Others: Urban industrial waste and garbage pollution, industrial noise, and noise pollution of building operations are also serious.
（ 3） Rapid urbanization bings environmental problems
Environmental quality will be improved in large cities, coastal
open cities and tourist cities with comprehensive treatment of
environment. However, the economic strength and capital
construction is not enough in small and medium-sized cities.
Therefore, urban expansion is formed in advance, leading to
environmental deterioration;
Air quality may be continued to deteriorate in urban and
industrial areas with large coal burning
Noise pollution becomes more serious in newly emerging cites.
Urban sewage treatment and waste disposal will be improved;
however, processing raito of harmless is difficult to be improved in
a short period.
The situation of environmental pollution is severe in the whole country, and deterioration of natural ecosystems can not effectively be kept within limits with the following reasons:
Heavy pressure of population growth and traditional development model on environment;
Environmental awareness is generally not high, and legal sense of environment is not strong;
Failure to abide the law, and enforce the law not severely
The cost of environment protection is insufficient, and the mechanism is unsoundness
6.6.3 Environmental cure of sustainable development
Strategy of sustainable development in our country emphasizes: The core is development The important symbol is continuous utilization of resource and favorable
ecological environment. Ask the people not only consider current situation but also regard
development need The key point of implementing strategy of sustainable development lies in
compound decision and improvement of administrative mechanism; the most profound root exists in the people.
During 1980s, environmental protection is determined as the
fundamental State policy. Under this guide, insist on the policy that
unification of synchronized planning to implementation and development
of economic development, urban and rural construction, as well as
environmental construction, and economic, social and environmental
benefits. And adopt a series of effective measures.
Environmental protection is brought into the plan of national economy and social developmentDevelop land development and rehabilitation, and strengthen to prevent and reduce natural di sastersCarry out birth control, and take efforts to reduce population pressures on the environmentDevelopment and implementation of a series of laws and regulations of environmental protection to strengthen the environment and management by supervisionImplement the policy of energy development and saving, and develop controlling total discharge of pollutantsPractice cleaner production and prevention and cure of industrial pollutionProtect and improve the environment, and change consumer attitudes in the process of urbanizationSet up environmental protection strategy considering rational use of natural resources as the core.Insist on environmental protection policy considering strengthening management as the centerDevelop environmental science and technology and the national environmental education
6.7 Case Study
Introduction of sustainable development sample plot in
China This is a strategic measure pushed by the government to
the local cities to carry out and implement China's Agenda 21. It is co-sponsored by Department of Science and Technology and State Development Planning Commission in 1986. By time of 2003, it has been established 40 national experimental zones, 60 provincial experimental zones, covering 25 cities in the county (Figure. 6-6).
During the past seven years, the sustainable development consciousness of local decision makers, enterprises and administrative personnel and the public have been improved by developing training programs and demonstration project at home and abroad.
科技部、国家计委等有关部委
省、市领导小组及省主管部门
国家可持续发展实验区办公室
专家指导委员会
省级实验区
省级实验区
国家实验区
国家实验区
国家实验区
Figure 6-6 Organizational structure of sustainable development experimental area in the country (quoted from introduction of administrative center of China's Agenda 21 and national sustainable development trial plot,2003)
Questions and Discussion
1. What stages do the occurrence and development of environmental ethics experience? What thought produced in each stage?2. What is the right environment ethics? What is the practical significance?3. What is the diferneces between sustainable development and traditional development model?4. What are the special operational policy measures to be carried out while implementing sustainable development in China?
Thank youThank you
