Topic 1 Foundations of environmental systems and societies

Minamata

• 1956 a chemical compnay released toxic methyl mercury into waste water in Minamata, Japan

• Shellfish and fish contaminated

• Local people developed illness from mercury poisoning

• Raised awareness of thrreats posed by industrialisation

Silent Springs (1962)

• Rachel Carson, 1962

• Raised awareness of the threat of pesticide DDT to organisms higher up food chains

• Led to ban on agricultural use of DDT in most developed countries in 1970s/80s

• Increased awareness of environmental pollution

An Inconvenient Truth

• Al Gore, 2006

• extensive publicity + huge worldwide audience

• Film made arguments about global warming

• Changed people’s attitudes and raised awareness about climate change

Rio Earth Summit (1992)

• First UN conference to focus on suststainable development

• Attended by 172 nations, global impact

• Led to adoption of Agenda 21, blueprint for action to acieve sustainable development worldwide

• Change in attitudes and behaviour were necessary for change

Development of renewable energy technology

• solar panels, wind turbines

• arguments for switching into renewable energy into a reality

• drove the environmental movement forward

Impact of historical influences on environmental movements

• resulted in creation of environmental pressure groups

• Promoted the concept of stewardship

• Increeased media coverage, which raised public awareness

Impact of new resource/product on changes in attitudes towards the environment

people are more likely to see benefits than potential problems which emerge later

Impact of environmental pressure groups on changes in attitudes towards the environment

can help raise awareness by distributing leaflets and staging events

Impact of pollution on changes in attitudes towards the environment

When consequences of pollution are seen, environmental attitudes can become politically mainstream

Impact of school curricula on changes in attitudes towards the environment

Can reflect and promote changing attitudes

Impact of changing technologies on changes in attitudes towards the environment

can help to spread new attitudes (e.g. the internet)

Impact of international conferences on changes in attitudes towards the environment

can raise the profile of environmental issues through conferences, and can set targets that take effect through national gov’t strategies

Inputs of EVS

education, cultural influences, social influences, the media, religion

Outputs of EVS

perspectives, appraisal, decisions, action

Environmental Value Systems

A particular worldview that shapes the way an individual or group of people perceives and evaluates environmental issues, influenced by cultural, religious, economic, and sociopolitical contexts

Ecocentrism

nature centred EVS, who sees nature as having an inherent value

Ecocentrism values

• minimal disturbance of natural processes

• Combining spiritual, social, and environmental aspects

• Aiming for global sustainablity

• Self-imposed restraint of natural resource use

Annthropocentrism

people centred EVS, everyone in society should participate in environmental decision making

values of anthropocentrism

• people are can sustainably manage global systems through the use of taxes, environmental regulations, and legislation

• participation encourages better decision making in their environment

• ecosystems need to be managed holistically so everyone should be able to contribute

• debate is encouraged

self-reliant, soft ecologists

more conservative about environmental problem solving than deep ecologists

values of self-reliant, soft ecologists

• lack of faith in modern, large-scale technology

• materialism is wrong

• economic growth can be geared to even the poorest people

environmental managers

believe that economic growth and resource exploitation can continue if carefully managed

values of environmental managers

• laws and regulations