IB ESS 1.1

Examples of historical influences

James Lovelock's development of the Gaia hypothesis; Minamata disaster; Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring (1962); Davis Guggenheim's documentary An Inconvenient Truth (2006); Chernobyl disaster of 1986; Fukushima Daiihi nuclear disaster of 2011; whaling; Bhopal disaster of 1984; Gulf of Mexico oil spill of 2010; Chipko movement; Rio Earth Summit 2012 (Rio+20); Earth Day; Green Revolution; Copenhagen Accord

Environmental Value System (EVS)

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

Inputs of EVS

education, experience, culture and media

Outputs of EVS

decisions and evaluations

An ecocentric viewpoint...

integrates social, spiritual and environmental dimensions into a holistic ideal. It puts ecology and nature as central to humanity and emphasizes a less materialistic approach to life with greater self-sufficiency of societies. An ecocentric viewpoint prioritizes biorights, emphasizes the importance of education and encourages self-restraint in human behaviour

An anthropocentric viewpoint...

argues that humans must sustainably manage the global system. This might be through the use of taxes, environmental regulation and legislation. Debate would be encouraged to reach a consensual, pragmatic approach to solving environmental problems

A technocentric viewpoint...

argues that technological developments can provide solutions to environmental problems. This is a consequence of a largely optimistic view of the role humans can play in improving the lot of humanity. Scientific research is encouraged in order to form policies and to understand how systems can be controlled, manipulated or changed to solve resource depletion. A pro-growth agenda is deemed necessary for society's improvement