- "Environmental ethics is an established field of practical philosophy... Ethics exerts influence on a large range of disciplines including environmental law, environmental sociology, ecotheology, ecological economics, ecology and environmental geography."
Addresses the ethical challenges posed by climate change, including questions about intergenerational equity, responsibility for emissions, and the ethics of adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Environmental Ethics: A branch of philosophy that deals with the ethical issues relating to the natural environment and the interaction of humans with the environment.
Climate Change: Refers to long-term changes in the earth's climate, caused by human activities such as burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
Sustainability: The ability to maintain or support natural resources and ecosystems, while meeting the needs of society and future generations.
Environmental Justice: The fair distribution of environmental benefits and harms across different social and economic groups, especially those historically marginalized.
Biodiversity: The variety of living organisms on earth, including species, habitats, and ecosystems, and the interconnectedness of these organisms.
Renewable Energy: Energy sources that are replenished naturally and can be used without depleting natural resources, such as solar, wind, and hydro energy.
Ecological Footprint: The impact of human activities on the environment, measured by the amount of land and resources needed to sustain a certain lifestyle.
Pollution: The release of harmful substances or chemicals into the environment, affecting air, water, or soil quality, and endangering the health and wellbeing of living organisms.
Conservation: The protection and preservation of natural resources and ecosystems, including the legal and social measures taken to achieve this goal.
Climate Adaptation: Strategies and measures taken to mitigate the impact of climate change on natural and human systems, including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and health.
Anthropocene: A term used to describe the current geological epoch, characterized by significant human impact on geological, ecological, and atmospheric processes.
Carbon Footprint: The amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities, mostly related to the consumption of fossil fuels, but also by other sources like deforestation and agricultural practices.
Environmental Governance: The legal, institutional, and social frameworks that regulate the management of natural resources and the interaction of society with the environment.
Green Economy: A concept that envisions a shift towards sustainable, low-carbon, and resource-efficient economic systems in order to achieve a more equitable and sustainable future.
Ecosystem Services: The benefits or goods that humans derive from ecosystems, such as food, water, clean air, and cultural and spiritual values.
Anthropocentric Environmental Ethics: This is a perspective that prioritizes human interests and values over those of other species in environmental decision-making. This type of ethics argues that we have a duty to protect and preserve the environment for future human generations.
Biocentric Environmental Ethics: This perspective places an equal, intrinsic value on all living things, not just humans. Biocentric environmentalists argue that human interests should not always trump those of other species in environmental decision-making, and that we have a duty to protect the natural world for its own sake.
Deep Ecology: This is a type of environmental philosophy that holds that all living beings have an inherent value and that humans are just one component of a larger ecosystem. Deep ecologists argue that we must shift our thinking away from anthropocentrism and towards a more holistic, biocentric view of the world.
Eco-Feminism: This is a type of environmental philosophy that recognizes the close relationship between the oppression of women and the exploitation of the natural world. Eco-feminists argue that the patriarchal system, with its emphasis on domination and control, is at the root of both problems.
Climate Justice: This is a type of environmental philosophy that focuses on the unequal distribution of the costs and benefits of climate change. Climate justice advocates argue that those who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as low-income communities and minority groups, should not be made to bear the burden of addressing it.
Eco-Socialism: This is a type of environmental philosophy that views capitalism as the root cause of environmental problems, including climate change. Eco-socialists argue that we must move towards a more equitable economic system that values the environment and the common good over profits.
Technological Optimism: This is a viewpoint that believes that technology and innovation will ultimately solve our environmental problems. Technological optimists argue that we can continue with our current way of life, using technological advances to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and environmental degradation.
Environmental Pragmatism: This type of environmental philosophy takes a practical approach to environmental problems, seeking solutions that balance economic, social, and environmental concerns. Environmental pragmatists argue that we must find workable solutions that are grounded in science, economics, and political reality.
Environmental Skepticism: This is a viewpoint that questions the scientific consensus on climate change and other environmental issues. Environmental skeptics argue that the evidence is not conclusive and that more research is needed before we can take action.
Environmental Conservationism: This is a philosophy that places a high value on preserving the natural world as it is, often through protected areas or strict regulations. Conservationists argue that we must preserve natural habitats and prevent the loss of biodiversity, even if it means limiting human development and activities.
- "The main competing paradigms are anthropocentrism, physiocentrism (called ecocentrism as well), and theocentrism."
- "These decisions raise numerous questions."
- "Should humans continue to clear cut forests for the sake of human consumption?"
- "Why should humans continue to propagate its species, and life itself?"
- "Should humans continue to make gasoline-powered vehicles?"
- "What environmental obligations do humans need to keep for future generations?"
- "Is it right for humans to knowingly cause the extinction of a species for the convenience of humanity?"
- "How should humans best use and conserve the space environment to secure and expand life?"
- "What role can Planetary Boundaries play in reshaping the human-earth relationship?"
- "The academic field of environmental ethics grew up in response to the works of Rachel Carson and Murray Bookchin and events such as the first Earth Day in 1970..."
- "Two papers published in Science had a crucial impact: Lynn White's 'The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis'... and Garrett Hardin's 'The Tragedy of the Commons'..."
- "An essay by Aldo Leopold in his A Sand County Almanac, called 'The Land Ethic,' in which Leopold explicitly claimed that the roots of the ecological crisis were philosophical."
- "The first international academic journals in this field emerged from North America in the late 1970s and early 1980s..."
- "The US-based journal Environmental Ethics in 1979..."
- "The Canadian-based journal The Trumpeter: Journal of Ecosophy in 1983."
- "The first British-based journal of this kind, Environmental Values, was launched in 1992."