Topic 1: Foundations of ESS 1.1 Environmental Value Systems 1.2 Systems and Models 1.3 Energy and Equilibria 1.4 Sustainability 1.5 Humans and Pollution Topic 1: Foundations of ESS

1.1 - Environmental Value Systems Next page of notebook 1.1 - Environmental Value Systems

What is an Environmental Value System (EVS)? KEY TERM: Environmental Value System = a worldview that shapes the way an individual, or group of people, perceive and evaluate environmental issues. It is influenced by cultural, religious, economic and socio-political contexts. Worldview = the view that a person/group has of the world. Your worldview is how YOU SEE the world. So, an EVS is how a person values the environment, based on how they see the world.

An EVS may be considered a system It has inputs: any factors that influence the EVS It has outputs: the evaluations, decisions and actions that occur as a result inputs outputs Environmental Value System

EVS Spectrum Different societies and people have different environmental philosophies Comparing the different EVSs helps explain why societies make different choices The spectrum goes from Ecocentric  anthropocentric  technocentric

EVS Spectrum Posters A logo that represents the EVS There is a wide spectrum of EVSs each with their perspectives and implications A logo that represents the EVS Beliefs of people with the EVS The resulting actions and decisions people with the EVS would make Ecocentric Deep ecologist Biocentric Self-reliance soft ecologists Anthropocentric Environmental managers Technocentric Cornucopians

EVS Spectrum Presentations

Technocentric or Ecocentric? For each of the following, decide whether an ecocentric or technocentric viewpoint is being described. Go to the side of the room that corresponds with your choice! Find evidence (key words in the passage) and be ready to state your evidence to prove your choice.

Demand for water resources: This view seeks to provide water for the future by developing innovative methods. They would not limit water use in the homes and industry. They would have plans to seed clouds to produce rain, desalination of sea water, iceberg capture, or developing crops that needed less water.

Climate Change: This view prefers to see a limit on the consumption of fossil fuels, They stress the need to modify farming methods and reduce human dependence on livestock such as cattle which increase greenhouse gases. They would replant trees. They favor renewable sources such as biomass, solar, and wind power.

Fossil Fuels: This view would focus on reduction of carbon dioxide by limiting emissions that industry is permitted to make, even if it did limit economic activity and growth. They would develop a global credit system. Once you used your carbon allotment then you would have to buy carbon credits from another company.

Ecological Footprints: This view’s statement on this would be: problems can be solved with economic growth, and prosperity will help to redress the imbalances and ensure that deficits are removed.

Demand for water resources: This view involves conservation and recycling so that water can be used sustainably without harm to the environment. They would encourage the use of meters and monitoring so that water use is kept to a minimum and used for essential purposes only.

Climate Change: This view favor plans such as the one devised to use a fleet of unmanned, wind powered ships to spray salt water into low lying clouds. Tiny particles of salt within each droplet act as centers of condensation leading to a greater concentration of water droplets. This leads to greater albedo and the cloud increase can cool the Earth by reflecting radiation back into space.

Fossil Fuels: This view calls on alternative energy sources such as wind, waves, and hydrogen fuel cells as a solution rather than changing lifestyles.

Ecological Footprints: This view’s statement on this would be, if a country has a ecological footprint greater than the biologically productive area then economic growth has caused the society to live unsustainably. Humans should change their lifestyles and reduce their demands on the land.

Ecocentric or Technocentric? QUICKLY cut out each of the viewpoints. Set up your notebook so all the ecocentric viewpoints are on the LEFT and the technocentric viewpoints are on the RIGHT Make sure that each issue is matched up. In the middle, write YOUR viewpoint on the issue.

WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?

What is your EVS? Glue in your Environmental Attitudes Survey. Review your answers to each question. Have any changed so far? If so, make the changes. On the opposite page… TOP HALF: What is your EVS. Explain your beliefs on the environment. BOTTOM HALF: Draw a system diagram for YOUR personal EVS. Include specific factors that have influenced your EVS and specific decisions and actions you take because of your EVS.