shallow and deep ecology

shallow ecology

• means that humans must live in harmony with nature

• the environment is necessary for human prosperity and happiness so must be protected

• natures value is determined by its use to humanity known as enlightened anthropocentrism

• this makes humanity the steward not the master of nature and focuses on slower smarter growth that strikes a balance between the economy and the environment that is called sustainable development

three main approaches to shallow ecology

green capitalism: allows the market to resolve environmental issues. ethical consumerism and the rising cost of scare recourses will drive TNCs to innovate and adopt corporate responsibility to keep making profit

managerialism: use regulations and targets to limit environmental impacts and to manage the global commons by establishing global governance such as the UNFCCC at state level this can involve setting targets or the use of green taxes

strong faith in tech: green technology can create an environmentally friendly form of capitalism and development

deep ecology

rejects shallow ecology as part of the problem not solution

• nature cannot be balanced with with the growth orientated values that underpin global capitalism; industrialisation consumerism materialism and limitless growth are the problem

• the science of ecology teaches us that humanity is not the centre of life on earth and is not more important or superior to any other species or nature itself

what are the two types of deep ecology

• radical paradigm shift from the dominant world view give priority to humans to an approach that gives priority to nature or the planet this is known as ecocentrism where nature has value in its own right independent of any value placed on man kind

• they want anthropocentrism to go to ecocentrism

• a rejection of modern global capitalism and its values a move to strong where happiness will be based on quality of life not the consumption of material goods

shallow ecology sustainable dev debate

• sustainable development defined by the brutland report as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs this idea is accepted by the IMF and WB

• they both support growth that is inclusive and environmentally sound so that reduces poverty and meets the needs of today and future generations this is referred to as weak suitability

deep ecology sustainable dev debate

• favours strong sustainability which preserves and sustains the earth

• this involves a negative growth economy for developed economies to significantly reduce their consumption and development for southern states until basic needs are met

• then there will be a move to a zero-growth economy for all this will be based around frugal but sufficient ways of living rather than material affluence with localised production to massively decrease the use of non renewable resources and pollution