Sustainable Development: from the ‘partial’ to the ‘full’ ecology perspective M. Bonnes, G. Carrus, & M. Bonaiuto 18th iaps Conference Wien, 7-10 July 2004 University of Rome “La Sapienza” Department of Developmental and Social Psychology
Sustainability concept: Origins and basic assumptions Origins Ecological sciences & natural resource management (forestry, end of 19 th Century) Ecosystem approach to physical environment
Sustainability concept: Underlying assumptions Ecosystem approach to physical environment A dynamic system characterized by: Processes of diverse life forms and related natural resources Temporal scale extension (long-term vs.short-term) Spatial scale extension (biospheric vs. site-specific) Attention to global processes (e.g., biodiversity loss, global warming, population growth, etc.) Continuity between local (site-specific) and global processes Interdependency between diversity of: processes, life-forms, scale-levels
Sustainability concept: underlying assumptions Within the ecosystem approach of ecological science 2 different paradigms 1) Natural Ecological sciences: “partial ecology” 2) Integrated Ecological sciences: “full ecology”
Ecosystem approach in Natural/Ecological Sciences Biological/physical/chemical sciences Focus on natural processes and natural resources for non-human life forms (plants & animals) Conflicts and interdependencies among diverse life forms Biological/physical forces: genetics and functional ecology Conflicts between Non-human vs. Human activities/needs Human dimension as disturbing/disruptive factor of ecosystems PARTIAL ECOLOGY
Inclusion of human/social/behavioral sciences Focus on both natural and human processes of ecosystems, and their dynamic and mutual interdependencies Attention to Person/Group/Society processes FULL ECOLOGY Ecosystem approach in Integrated Ecological Sciences Conflicts and interdependencies within human activities/groups in relation to natural resource uses human dimension as potentially both: - a source of - a threat to sustainability of ecosystems
From “Full Ecology” to Sustainable Development Sustainable Development (SD) Bruntland Report 1987, Rio Conference 1992, Johannesburg 2002 Dimensions of sustainability in SD Environmental Sustainability Ecological Natural Sciences Economic/social/cultural Sustainability Social & Behavioural Sciences integrated ecological sciences
NEW ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL SCIENCES The full ecology paradigm claims for: - collaboration between natural and human/social science - development of new environmental social sciences: -Ecological Economics - Environmental Anthropology - Environmental Philosophy - Environmental Law - Environmental Sociology - Environmental Psychology (focus on individual level within social psychological perspective)
Main challenges for environmental psychology of SD Moving ecological sciences from site-specific (spatio- physically based) to place-specific (social-psychologically based) approaches Combining the place-specific (localized) perspective with the extended spatially (biosphere) and temporally (future generations) perspective of SD Developing existing and new social-psychological theories/concepts for understanding environment/place- related psychological processes Increasing collaboration with other social-environmental sciences
New emerging psychological concepts for environmental sustainability Environmental awareness Environmental discourse Environmental social representation Environmental concern Pro-environmental/ecological attitudes Ecological behavioral intentions Conservation behavior Ecological responsibility Environmental commitment Natural resource dilemmas Environmental values Environmental worldviews Environmental ethics Environmental normative conducts Environmental/place identity Environmental/place attachment Environmentally relevant behaviours