1 Environmental Science Chapter 2: Environmental Ethics

2 Environmental Ethics Ethics is that branch of philosophy that seeks to define fundamentally what is right and what is wrong.

3 Environmental Ethics Environmental issues require a consideration of ethics (individual, societal, corporate) Because of the complexity of issues, It is often difficult to clearly define what is right and what is wrong The current world energy situation is an example… – Some individuals view this situation as serious and have reduced their consumption – Some do not believe there is a problem and have not modified their energy use – Some do not care about or are indifferent to the situation… they will use energy as long as it is available (and as long as they can afford it)

4 The Call for a New Ethic A lot of what we do on our home planet connects us to something or somebody else. Managing the interactions between people and their environment has been transformed by unprecedented increases in the rate, scale, and complexity of the interactions. Across the world, thousands of people believe that today’s environmental challenges must be met with a new and more robust environmental ethic.

5 Conflicting Ethical Positions Sometimes an individual’s own ethical commitments can conflict with each other. – A mayor might have an ethical commitment to preserving land in a city but also have an ethical commitment to bringing in jobs associated with construction of a new factory. In many cases, what is good for the environment is also good for people. – While forest protection may reduce logging jobs, a healthier forest might lead to new jobs in recreation, fisheries, and tourism.

6 Three Philosophical Approaches to Environmental Ethics Anthropocentrism (human-centered) – This view holds that all environmental responsibility is derived from human interests.  Assumes that only humans are morally significant.  Assumes nature is an instrument for human manipulation. Biocentrism (life-centered) – All life forms have an inherent right to exist. Ecocentrism – This view maintains that the environment deserves direct moral consideration, not consideration derived from human or animal interests.

7 Three Philosophical Approaches to Environmental Ethics “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….We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” —Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac, 1949

8 Environmental Attitudes Because ethical commitments pull in different directions at different times, it is often easier to talk in terms of environmental attitudes or approaches. The three most common attitudes/approaches are: – Development approach – Preservation approach – Conservation approach

9 Development Ethic Developmentalists recognize that nature has value, but believe that the Earth and its resources exist solely for human benefit or pleasure A developmentalist may see little value in a stretch of undeveloped coastline. May argue that it is a waste of resources not to develop the area.

10 Preservation Ethic Preservationists hold that nature has value in and of itself and should not be disturbed Nature has intrinsic value apart from any benefit that it provide to humans All forms of life have an inherent right to exist Wide spectrum of belief … – Some have such a deep reverence for life and respect for the rights of all organisms to live, that preservation is justified no matter what the economic or social cost – Some determine the rights of various species depending on the harm (benefit) to people

11 Conservation Ethic Conservationists recognize the value of nature, yet realize that people must exploit nature in a sustainable manner. They work toward striking a balance between resource use and preservation Conservationists take a compromise position favoring resource exploitation but in a responsible, sustainable manner.

12 Overview of Attitudes and Potential for Conflict There is an inherent conflict between preservation and development: – Development believes in the destruction of a resource for human benefit – Preservation believes in the rights of all creatures and that nature should be safeguarded, not disturbed. The conservation ethic recognizes the desirability of maintaining decent living standards, but aims for a balance between resource use and resource availability.

13 Individual Environmental Ethics tie to Societal and Business Ethics Ethical changes in society and business must start with individuals. We must recognize that our individual actions have a bearing on environmental quality and that each of us bears some responsibility for the quality of the environment in which we live.

14 Societal Environmental Ethics Western societies have long acted as if the earth has: – Unlimited reserves of natural resources. – An unlimited ability to assimilate wastes. – A limitless ability to accommodate unchecked growth. Until the last quarter of the 20 th century, economic growth and resource exploitation were the dominant orientations toward the natural environment in industrialized societies. Things have now started to change.

15 Corporate Environmental Ethics The by-products of manufacturing need to be considered a residue rather than a waste—residues need to be recycled or new uses found for them (an industrial ecology concept) While it is not reasonable to expect a pollution-free environment, industry should consider it a goal, which they should attempt to achieve.

16 Corporate Environmental Ethics Corporations are legal entities designed to operate at a profit. Although a corporation’s primary purpose is to generate a financial return for its shareholders, this does not mean that a corporation has no ethical obligations to the public or to the environment. Shareholders can demand that their directors run the corporation ethically.

17 Corporate Environmental Ethics (Why do industries pollute?) Industry consumes energy and raw materials, and produces waste and pollutants that must be discarded or controlled. Normal economic forces encourage profitability by cutting costs—pollution controls are expensive, especially to older and more polluting forms of manufacturing It’s unreasonable to expect some older plants to install modern pollution controls—profitability would be reduced drastically Newer industry is incorporating pollution controls into their building and manufacturing plans.

18 Green Business Concepts It makes little sense to preserve the environment if preservation causes economic collapse. Nor does it make sense to maintain industrial productivity at the cost of breathable air, clean water, wildlife, parks, and wilderness. Natural capitalism is the idea that businesses can both expand their profits and take good care of the environment. – The 3M Company is estimated to have saved up to $500 million over the last 20 years through its Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) program.

19 Industrial Ecology A concept emerging in the 90’s that stresses the reuse of products as a way to reduce resource use, waste, and pollution Argues that good ecology is also good business: simply discarding materials extracted from the Earth at great cost is unwise

20 Corporate Environmental Ethics (Is industry becoming more environmentally concerned?) In 1990, a group of companies, investors, and environmentalists formed the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economics (CERES) CERES companies pledge to uphold 10 environmental standards, pledging to voluntarily go beyond the requirements set by law to strive for environmental practices that …

21 CERES environmental standards 1. Protect the biosphere 2. Sustainably use natural resources 3. Reduce and dispose of waste properly 4. Conserve energy 5. Minimize environmental risks through safe technologies 6. Reduce the use, manufacture, and sale of products/services that cause environmental damage 7. Restore environmental damage 8. Inform pub of any health, safety, or env condition 9. Consider env policies in management decision 10. Report the results of an annual env audit to the public

22 Do We Consume Too Much? North Americans represent 5% of the world’s population. – North Americans consume one-fourth of the world’s oil. – They use more water and own more cars than anybody else. – They waste more food than most people in sub- Saharan Africa eat.