Unit  1  (Topic  1&7  )    Environmental  Values  Systems  

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How  would  you  explain  a  values  system?  

We  now  know  what  a  system  is,    but  what  about  a  ‘value?’  

The  word  ‘value’  means  worth.  It  also  refers  to  the  ethical  precept  (general  rule)  upon  which  we  base  our  behavior  

What  are  your  values?  What  is  YOUR  values  system?  

Eco-­‐ethics  -­‐  where  do  you  stand?  

What  influences  your    values  system?  

HINT:  system  characterisMcs…    Can  you  think  of  inputs?  outputs?  processes?  

Input: Media School Peers Religion Culture Family

Output: Decisions Actions Answers Choices Perspectives View points

Processes: Listening Rejecting Accepting Learning Thinking Deciding

Values  System  

Environmental  value  system  

 A  set  of  deeply                                                                                                    held  beliefs  that  inform                                                                personal  or  societal                                                                        aQtudes  and  acMons                                                                              with  regard  to  the                                                              environment  and                                                      environmental  problem                                                          solving;  a  moral  code.  

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Who  has  an  environmental            value  system?  

•  Individuals  •  InfluenMal  individuals  •  Independent  pressure  groups  •  Intergovernmental  bodies  •  Non-­‐governmental  organizaMons  

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InfluenMal  individuals  

•  Elected  government  officials  •  Civil  service  staff  

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Independent  pressure  groups  

•  Businesses  •  Trade  organizaMons  •  Professional  associaMons    Corporate  social  responsibility  

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Intergovernmental  bodies  

•  UK  Sustainable  Development  Commission  •  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change  

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Non-­‐governmental  organizaMons  

•  WWF  •  Greenpeace  

Image from http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com and http://www.terradaily.com/images/far-eastern-leopard-russia-copyright-wwf-uk-bg.jpg and http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/image_full/international/photosvideos/photos/polar-bear-in-arctic

Environmental  value  systems  

•  Technocentrism  •  Ecocentrism  (Deep  Ecology)  •  AnthropocenMsm  

Image from http://www.awareearth.net/img/fist.jpg

Technocentric  Views  

•  Nature:  nature  is  a  model,  but  can  be  replaced  by  technology  when  needed  

•  Society:  human  health  and  well-­‐being  are  central  to  decision-­‐making  

•  Economy:  maintain  overall  total  of  human,  built  and  natural  capital  

•  Who  decides:  technology  experts  (as  advisors  to  government)  

Ecocentric  Views  

•  Nature:  environmental  conservaMon  is  central  to  decision-­‐making  

•  Society:  humans  are  part  of  nature  •  Economy:  maintain  natural  capital,  as  well  as  overall  total  capital  

•  Who  decides:  empowerment;  everyone  has  the  capacity  and  the  opportunity  to  parMcipate  in  decision-­‐making  

Anthropocentric  Views  

•  Nature:  the  environment  is  a  resource  for  humans  to  use  as  needed  

•  Society:  human  health  and  well-­‐being  are  central  in  decision-­‐making  

•  Economy:  maintain  overall  total  of  human,  built  and  natural  capital  

•  Who  decides:  elected  government  representaMves  

Deep  Ecologists  

•  Believe  that  the  living  environment  has  the  same  right  to  live  and  flourish  as  humanity.  

•  Concerned  about  the  impacts  of  human  life  as  one  part  of  the  ecosphere.  Not  all  natural  resources  are  for  human  use.  

•  Deep  ecology  seeks  a  more                                                holisMc  view  of  the  world                                                                      we  live  in.  

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Cornucopians  [La$n:  cornus=horn,  copia=abundance]  

•  Believe  that  the  Earth’s  resources  will  infinitely  benefit  humans    

•  Not  concerned  about  the  impacts  of  human  life.  Natural  resources  are  for  human  use.  

•  Cornucopians  view  humans            as  soluMon-­‐focused  who            will  always  find  a  way            out  of  any  difficulty