Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Environmental Sustainability Environmental Sustainability

and Human Valuesand Human Values

Sustainability & The Sustainability & The CommonsCommons Garrett HardinGarrett Hardin

““The Tragedy of the Commons”The Tragedy of the Commons” Sharing common Sharing common

resourcesresources Resource collapseResource collapse

Happening with global Happening with global commons todaycommons today

Stewardship: shared Stewardship: shared responsibilityresponsibility

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 world’s poorMeets needs of world’s poor Can occur only within Can occur only within

limits of the limits of the environmentenvironment

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

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

Sustainable ConsumptionSustainable Consumption

Requires eradication of povertyRequires eradication of poverty Poor will need to Poor will need to increaseincrease

consumption: why?consumption: why? Will require Will require

major lifestyle major lifestyle changeschanges

Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics Application of ethical standards to Application of ethical standards to

environmental questionsenvironmental questions Based on values, which changeBased on values, which change Consider people today and in the Consider people today and in the

futurefuture Involves many Involves many

tradeoffstradeoffs

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

Western WorldviewWestern Worldview Expansionist; frontier attitudeExpansionist; frontier attitude Human-centered, utilitarianHuman-centered, utilitarian Exploit natureExploit nature Accumulate wealthAccumulate wealth

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 in Requires radical shift in

modern thinkingmodern thinking Need for population Need for population

controlcontrol

Voluntary SimplicityVoluntary Simplicity How should you live?How should you live? Material wealth not required for Material wealth not required for

happinesshappiness Values and character importantValues and character important How can you make How can you make

changes?changes?

Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice Right of everyone to protection from Right of everyone to protection from

environmental harmenvironmental harm Moral sense of fairness & equalityMoral sense of fairness & equality Who is exposed to the most Who is exposed to the most

pollutants?pollutants? Where are many Where are many

landfills and toxic landfills and toxic waste facilities waste facilities located?located?

A Plan Is NeededA Plan Is Needed Carrying capacityCarrying capacity

Maximum population that can be Maximum population that can be sustainedsustained

What is our carrying capacity?What is our carrying capacity? Human population Human population

must be stabilizedmust be stabilized Overconsumption must Overconsumption must

stop stop

DevelopmentDevelopment Goal: improve quality of human lifeGoal: improve quality of human life Unequal distribution of resourcesUnequal distribution of resources Many live on less than Many live on less than

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

solved?solved? What can you do?What can you do?

Education Is Key!Education Is Key!

Public must be awarePublic must be aware Support for environmental educationSupport for environmental education Need for more Need for more

trained trained professionalsprofessionals

Biodiversity & UsBiodiversity & Us

Biodiversity: variety of living Biodiversity: variety of living organismsorganisms

Humans are part of Earth’s web of Humans are part of Earth’s web of lifelife

What does biodiversity do for us?What does biodiversity do for us? Ecosystem Ecosystem

servicesservices

Protecting BiodiversityProtecting Biodiversity

Much biodiversity is in the Much biodiversity is in the developing worlddeveloping world

Need for more scientistsNeed for more scientists Proper management of Proper management of

landland EveryEvery country needs country needs

a plan a plan

Where Do We Start?Where Do We Start? Individuals matter!Individuals matter!

Simple, small changes; reduce Simple, small changes; reduce consumptionconsumption

There is no “away”There is no “away” National levelNational level

Commitment to Commitment to sustainabilitysustainability

Know your leadersKnow your leaders

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 Most people need to reconnect with

the environmentthe environment More to life More to life

than than technologytechnology

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

Focus on international Focus on international environmental issuesenvironmental issues

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

Assess progressAssess progress Little success: Little success:

why?why? Goal: reduce Goal: reduce

povertypoverty

““The test of our progress is not The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the whether we add more to the

abundance of those who have abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too enough for those who have too

little.”little.”

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1937Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1937