May 2011
Environmental Science Ch # 2
Chapter 2
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Introduction
Chief Seattle
Present Status
Environmental Ethics
Ethics
Ethics and Laws
Conflicting Ethical Positions
Greening of Religion
Three Philosophical Approaches to Environmental Ethics
Anthropocentric
Biocentric
Ecocentric
Other Philosophical Approaches
Ecofeminism
Environmental Attitudes
Developmental
Preservationists
Conservationist
Sustainable Development
UN Conference
Naturalists Philosophers
Environmental Justice
Societal Environmental Ethics
Corporate Environmental Ethics
Waste and Pollution
Profitability and Power
Is there a Corporate Environmental Ethic?
Green Business Concept
Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economics
Individual Environmental Ethics
The Ethics of Consumption - Do we Consume too much?
Personal Choices
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ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
INTRODUCTION – THE CALL FOR A NEW ETHIC
Chief Seattle's view is similar to those developed after viewing the earth from space.
"We are all independently connected to all things”.
We agree that there is Environmental degradation
2 – 1. Present status: Observed the environmental destruction, biodiversity decrease and
heard the disagreements on the environment, for example:
All Natural resources should be developed, such as:
Streams should be dammed to generate electric power.
Timber harvesting in the NW; pro jobs Vs the protection of the spotted owl.
Int'l pollution as in acid rain; radioactive waste disposal across oceans, or across state
lines.
Globalization is a new period of growth. Our challenge is to repair the environment or at
least slow its destruction and to do so, requires an environmental ethic.
2 – 2. ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Ethics - seeks to define what is fundamentally right from wrong, regardless of culture.
Environmental ethics involves the moral basis for environmental responsibility and how
far this responsibility extends.(an explanation of our moral responsibility to the
Environment.
Morals are tied to religion and culture and in NA, and both are very diverse, ethics and
morals are not always the same. Here lies the difficulty in defining what is wrong.
Energy use, is there a problem?
Over population, more than one child?
Voters are urged to vote on issues but not provided with balanced information.
Code of Environmental ethics and conduct. Was developed by Canadian organizations premise: man is part of nature.
2 – 3. Ethics and Laws
Ideally, Laws should match the community’s ethical commitments. However, Laws
change at times to conform with commitments. Not every action that is ethically right
has a law supporting it.
Conflicting Ethical Positions
Example: A mayor tries to attract jobs to a city and at the same time, is trying to protect
the lands around the city.
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Greening of Religion
Many religious leaders recognize that religions can make major contributions.
2 – 4. Three Philosophical Approaches to Environmental Ethics.
To explain our moral responsibility to the environment:
1. ANTHROPOCENTRIC centers around man. The concerns are derived from
Human self interest: our survival depends on the environment and therefore
there is a need to protect it.
2. BIOCENTRIC, in which all forms of life have a right to exist. But is there a
hierarchy? Many believe so. Does animal come before plant? Do rights
depend on the harm done to man? Animal rights groups face a dilemma.
Which animals should be protected from extinction? Is anything wrong with
killing rats? Could you avoid the issue for a while by protection of one self by
habitat destruction?
3. ECOCENTRIC, where the environment has rights on the same level as man.
The individual is a member of the community, the moral basis.
Aldo Leopold* - implies respect for fellow members and the community in:
* Land Ethic essay. A thing is right when it tends to preserve the
integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community, and wrong when it
tends otherwise.
Do we tend to abuse things (or animals) when we regard them as belonging to ourselves?
It is one’s responsibility to respect nature and care for the local environment.
because
1. Environmental protection is a right, an extension of human rights
2. One's action towards the environment should be considered as a matter of right
or wrong rather than one of self-interest.
Other Philosophical Approaches
 Ecofeminism
 Social Ecology – Social hierarchies directly connected to behaviors that
degrade the environment
 Deep Ecology – the spiritual sense of oneness with the earth.
 Environmental Pragmatism – Policy rather than Ethics. Human centered ethic
with a long range perspective , many will conclude that environmental policy
requires an ecocentric ethic.
 Environmental Aesthetics – A study of how to appreciate beauty in the natural
world.
 Animal rights – humans have a moral obligation to non human animals.
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2 – 5. ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES
1. Developmental (individualism or egocentrism), upward mobility is embodied in this
philosophy, based on
(a) man is the master of earth. Resources exist for our use and pleasure.
(b) bigger and faster represents progress.
(c) if it can be done, it should be done.
Environment has value, only so far as we can use it for economic gain. Waste as a by
product of development is only now being considered (last 50 to 100 years)
2. Preservationist attitude considers nature special in itself.
Gp. 1 holds a reverence for all life, regardless of social or economic costs
Gp. 2 believes that nature is beautiful and refreshing, should be used only for
recreational and aesthetic purposes.
Gp. 3 scientists – should be left alone so that we can learn from nature, and to
preserve it for future generations.
3. Conservationist works towards a balance between total development and absolute
preservation.
Goal is one people living together in one world indefinitely.
Sustainable Development – Meeting the needs of present generations, without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. That depends on:
(a) Economic Development
(b) Social development
(c) Environmental protection
(d) Culture.
The UN Conference on Environment And Development (1992, in Rio Document
Agenda 21)- provided a roadmap for sustainable development.
Lack of Int’l progress in alleviating poverty and protecting the environment was due to
differing opinions on how to strike a balance between development and preservation
aspects of sustainable development.
2 – 6. NATURALIST PHILOSOPHERS
Ralph W. Emerson was an early critic of rampant economic development (1836). It
threatens to upset the balance in nature.
Henry D. Thoreau spoke of the need to protect all from the vandalism of a few.
John Muir organized the Sierra Club. Responsible for Yosemite Valley development.
“Nature vivifies the spirit”.
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Aldo Leopold contribution was in field game management. Hunting regulations.
Rachael Carson (Silent Spring) wrote on the dangers of pesticides.
2 – 7. EVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Fairness in the application of the laws. Pollution is the basis of the law.
Research has found that certain groups suffer disproportionately from the effects of
pollution. A result of discriminatory environmental practices. Examples:
Land fill locations in the US
Hazardous waste disposal sites
Exposure to pesticides and chemicals without the necessary protection
Fish consumption in certain areas.
Environmental issues are now being advocated by people of color.
1983 - Federal Gov’t finds that there is a practice of environmental racism.
2 – 8. SOCIETAL ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
There are many different viewpoints in society. However, we normally follow the most
commonly held one.
Western society believes – resources are unlimited; we have the ability to assimilate
wastes and accommodate unchecked growth.
These are manifested in our use of non-renewable resources for everything, never asking
what is enough. Many of the poor have nothing
Our objective as a culture is growth, expansion and domination. Our tendency is to take
from the common good without regard for the future, which results in an unstable
relationship with the environment.
Mahatma Gandhi - "the earth provides enough to satisfy every person's need, but not
every one's greed".
Developing nations want to improve their standard of living, which can be achieved only
through economic growth and resource exploitation.
2 – 9. CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Corporations are responsible for some pollution (waste), because with every task, waste
is generated.
They are legal entities, set up to make profit and as such have no ethics. The people who
run the corporations must make decisions, which involve ethics.
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Waste and Pollution
The costs of waste is externalized when it is dumped illegally. Then the public or the
environment pays.
Profitability and Power
Profits mean survival/ expansion/ influence in governments. Maximizing profits comes
before the public interest. That means: increase exploitation of natural resources.
Minimum concern about pollution; externalize costs (public pays rather than the
manufacturer.
When the law favors social and environmental issues, the corporations tend to use loop
holes, political pressure, and legal action to delay enforcement.
Is there a Corporate Environmental Ethic? There are incentives for ethical practices, eg.
Reduce waste to increase profits.
CERES Principles Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economics
To evaluate these corporations, the Valdez Principles (CERES) are evoked. These are a
set of codes (10), which corporations can adopt voluntarily. Includes:
 Minimizing pollutants
 Protect the biosphere
 Restore environmental damage
 Conserve energy
 Reduce and dispose of waste safely
 Making sustainable use of renewable resources
 Reducing health and safety risks for workers
 Environmental interest on Board(s) of Directors
 Lay offs?
Green Business Concepts
Natural Capitalism – can expand and be responsible. Industrial Ecology – tie waste to
profits. In 1994-95, a new concept surfaced. The tie between economics and
environment.
Waste products are now considered in manufacturing. Reuse or find a use for the waste.
Corporations talk on social issues - is it rhetoric or PR or represents real care?
2 – 10. INDIVIDUAL ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
The environmental movement has influenced some business decisions. But major
threatening problems remain, which include:
Habitability
Human health
Productivity of many ecosystems
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If we are to correct those problem, we must realize that the responsibility for the quality
of the environment rests with ourselves
Drivers are responsible for pollution not the cars
Electricity users are responsible not the power plant burning coal
For any thing to change, it requires lifestyle changes.
2 – 11. THE ETHICS OF CONSUMPTION - DO WE CONSUME TOO MUCH?
US -5% world population, consumes 25% of world’s oil. American lifestyle is driving the
Global ecosystem to the brink of collapse.
 Food : We will consume 20X more than a person in India/Africa in lifetime,
however our present idea is that Technology will provide a substitution for
Natural resources. And human growth will outpace food production.
Worldwide famine is inevitable
 Nature : Growing population creates more pollution, rivers are dammed; lands
converted.
 Energy - Oil reserves not used up before technology replaces , besides economics
increases reserves.
 Water – no substitute. Can go to desalinization. Experts suggest that Wars will be
waged over Water.
 Wild Nature – Land is being converted – development of 1000 to 2000
Hectares/day
2 – 12. PERSONAL CHOICES
Ecological foot print concept developed. It is a measure of one’s environmental impact
on the Earth.
A measure of earth’s productive land and water required to supply the resources that an
individual uses, as well as to absorb the wastes that the individual produces.
The effects of Global Warming are not predictable.
2 – 13. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Presently, the whole world is on the same page, in terms of the environment.
It must be cared for. Ecological degradation any where, affects us every where. Be it
forest destruction, poaching, drought
The TEXT authors suggest that the current crises are rooted in the gap between rich and
poor countries (Greed and envy?)
Industrialized countries create most of the pollution and use most of the resources.
20% population uses 80% of the goods.
Poor countries must develop rapidly (Agricultural practices/ Timber, mining and Oil
Expl) in order to take care of their people
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Global conferences
Stockholm 1972: Ozone layer
Rio 1992: Tropical rainforest destruction.
Kyoto 1997: Greenhouse gases – global warming
South Africa, 2002: Poverty and sustainable development.
Global Perspective
Chico Mendes – Extractive Reserves, setting aside areas in the forest.
International Trade in endangered species. Every one loses (economic and biodiversity)
Antarctica – a refuge or resource. Ban on Military use agreed upon.
To date have exploited the whales and seals,
Nuclear testing has caused the spread of radioactive wastes,
Pesticides are commonly spread around the world.
CFCs have caused the depletion of the ozone layer.
Fossil fuel use has lead to emission of XS GHG, and global warming.
Neah Bay, the Makah tribe are allowed to hunt the gray whale, following very explicit
regulations. Quota granted which Japan and Norway support.
“never doubt that a small group of thoughtful , committed citizens can change the
world. indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead
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