ch02 environmental sustainability and human values

8/9/2019 Ch02 Environmental Sustainability and Human Values

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Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development Economic growth that:Economic growth that:

Meets needs of the presentMeets needs of the present

Does not compromise futureDoes not compromise future Meets needs of worlds poorMeets needs of worlds poor

Can occur only withinCan occur only within

limits of thelimits of theenvironmentenvironment


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Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development


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Sustainable ConsumptionSustainable Consumption Using goods and services for our needsUsing goods and services for our needs Minimizes use of resourcesMinimizes use of resources

Eliminate consumption overpopulationEliminate consumption overpopulation


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Sustainable ConsumptionSustainable Consumption Requires eradication of povertyRequires eradication of poverty

Poor will need toPoor will need to increaseincrease consumption:consumption:why?why?

Will requireWill requiremajor lifestylemajor lifestyle

changeschanges


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Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics Application of ethical standards toApplication of ethical standards toenvironmental questionsenvironmental questions

Based on values, which changeBased on values, which change

Consider people today and in the futureConsider people today and in the future

Involves manyInvolves manytradeoffstradeoffs


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Environmental WorldviewsEnvironmental Worldviews Helps us make sense of:Helps us make sense of:

How the environment worksHow the environment works

Our place in the environmentOur place in the environment

Right and wrong behaviorsRight and wrong behaviors Two extremesTwo extremes

WesternWestern

Deep ecologyDeep ecology


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Western WorldviewWestern Worldview Expansionist; frontier attitudeExpansionist; frontier attitude HumanHuman--centered, utilitariancentered, utilitarian

Exploit natureExploit nature

Accumulate wealthAccumulate wealth


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Deep Ecology WorldviewDeep Ecology Worldview

Based on harmony with natureBased on harmony with nature

Spiritual respect for lifeSpiritual respect for life

All species are equalAll species are equal Requires radical shift inRequires radical shift in

modern thinkingmodern thinking

Need for populationNeed for populationcontrolcontrol


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Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice Right of everyone to protection fromRight of everyone to protection fromenvironmental harmenvironmental harm

Moral sense of fairness & equalityMoral sense of fairness & equality

Who is exposed to the most pollutants?Who is exposed to the most pollutants?

Where are manyWhere are manylandfills and toxiclandfills and toxic

waste facilitieswaste facilitieslocated?located?


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A Plan Is NeededA Plan Is Needed Carrying capacityCarrying capacity Maximum population that can beMaximum population that can be

sustainedsustained

What is our carrying capacity?What is our carrying capacity?

Human populationHuman populationmust be stabilizedmust be stabilized

Overconsumption mustOverconsumption muststopstop


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DevelopmentDevelopment

Goal: improve quality of human lifeGoal: improve quality of human life Unequal distribution of resourcesUnequal distribution of resources

Many live on less thanMany live on less than

$2 per day$2 per day How can this problem beHow can this problem be

solved?solved?

What can you do?What can you do?


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Education Is Key!Education Is Key! Public must be awarePublic must be aware

Support for environmental educationSupport for environmental education Need for moreNeed for more

trainedtrainedprofessionalsprofessionals


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Biodiversity & UsBiodiversity & Us Biodiversity: variety of living organismsBiodiversity: variety of living organisms

Humans are part of Earths web of lifeHumans are part of Earths web of life What does biodiversity do for us?What does biodiversity do for us?

EcosystemEcosystemservicesservices


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Protecting BiodiversityProtecting Biodiversity Much biodiversity is in the developingMuch biodiversity is in the developing

worldworld

Need for more scientistsNeed for more scientists

Proper management ofProper management oflandland

EveryEvery country needscountry needsa plana plan


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Where Do We Start?Where Do We Start? Individuals matter!Individuals matter! Simple, small changes; reduceSimple, small changes; reduce

consumptionconsumption

There is no awayThere is no away National levelNational level

Commitment toCommitment to

sustainabilitysustainability Know your leadersKnow your leaders


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What Does The Future Hold?What Does The Future Hold? How do you want to live?How do you want to live?

Most people need to reconnect with theMost people need to reconnect with the

environmentenvironment More to lifeMore to life

thanthantechnologytechnology


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Case Study: World SummitsCase Study: World Summits 1992: Rio de Janeiro1992: Rio de Janeiro

Focus on international environmentalFocus on international environmentalissuesissues

Goal: sustainable developmentGoal: sustainable development 2002: Johannesburg2002: Johannesburg

Assess progressAssess progress

Little success:Little success:why?why?

Goal: reduceGoal: reducepovertypoverty


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The test of our progress is notThe test of our progress is notwhether we add more to thewhether we add more to theabundance of those who haveabundance of those who have

much; it is whether we providemuch; it is whether we provideenough for those who have tooenough for those who have toolittle.little.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1937Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1937

ch02 environmental sustainability and human values

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