Perspectives DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): HL

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS), including perspectives, values, worldviews, environmental value systems, and the environmental movement.

Perspective

How an individual sees and understands a particular situation, shaped by personal experiences, cultural background, and societal influences.

Factors that inform and justify perspectives

Sociocultural norms, scientific understandings, laws, religion, economic conditions, local and global events, and lived experience.

Values

The qualities or principles that people believe have worth and importance in life, guiding behaviors, attitudes, and decisions.

Examples of values

Honesty, integrity, fairness, and compassion.

Value surveys

Investigate the perspectives of social groups towards various environmental issues to understand how environmental concerns are viewed and prioritized.

Effective design of value surveys

Take different viewpoints into account and look at the whole range of opinions within a group about environmental matters.

Results of an effective survey

Give insights into attitudes, beliefs, and values that influence how people view and respond to local and global environmental challenges.

Behavior-time graphs

Show changes in behaviors or lifestyles over time, helping to visualize trends and shifts related to environmental actions.

Worldviews

The lenses through which groups of people see and understand the world, made up of cultural beliefs, philosophical ideas, and political opinions.

Worldviews (compared to Perspectives)

A broader and deeper set of beliefs, values, and ideologies shaping how individuals or groups perceive and interpret the world.

Environmental Value System (EVS)

The way an individual or group perceives the environment and its resources, influencing how they evaluate environmental issues and take action.

Three main categories of Environmental Value Systems (EVSs)

Ecocentrism, anthropocentrism, and technocentrism.

Ecocentrism

Prioritizes the intrinsic value of nature and the environment over human needs and interests.

Anthropocentrism

Places human beings at the center of the universe, prioritizing human needs and interests over those of the environment.

Technocentrism

Places technology and human ingenuity at the center of all problem-solving and decision-making processes.

Ecocentric approach to plastic pollution

Reducing the amount of plastic waste that enters the oceans by reducing single-use plastics and implementing stricter regulations.

Technocentric approach to plastic pollution

Developing new technologies to clean up plastic waste from the oceans and prevent further pollution, such as advanced filtration systems.

Environmental Movement

Humanity’s increasing awareness of the damage we are causing to the environment and the importance of conserving environmental health.

Key individuals in the environmental movement

David Attenborough, Wangari Maathai, Greta Thunberg, Vandana Shiva, and Jane Goodall.

Influential literature in the environmental movement

Aldo Leopold's 'A Sand County Almanac', Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring', and Donella Meadows' 'The Limits to Growth'.

Important international conferences and agreements

The Stockholm Declaration (1972), the Rio Earth Summit (1992), and the Paris Agreement (2015).

Anthropocentric approach to plastic pollution

Focuses on managing plastic waste to minimize its impact on human health and well-being, such as improving recycling programs to reduce human exposure to harmful chemicals.

Environmental Attitude Data Collection

Surveys, questionnaires, and interviews gather environmental attitude data. Online tools enhance this by reaching wider audiences, collecting more data faster, and enabling efficient analysis.

Closed-Ended Questions

They provide structured, quantifiable data easily analyzed statistically. Examples include multiple-choice, rating, and Likert scale questions.

Examples of Closed-Ended Questions

Examples include rating renewable energy effectiveness, agreement levels on public transport reducing pollution, and likelihood of recycling on a scale.

Example of Behavior-time graphs

Tracking the number of cars entering a city center over a period of time following the implementation of a congestion charge.

Value Surveys and Behavior-Time Graphs

If value surveys are repeated over time, the results can be used to produce behaviour-time graphs, illustrating how perspectives and values correlate with actual behaviors.

Purpose of Behavior-Time Graphs

Behavior-time graphs show changes in behaviors or lifestyles over time, helping to visualize trends, patterns, and shifts in behavior related to environmental actions.

Tracking Daily Habits

Behavior-time graphs can track changes in daily habits over a set period, such as energy consumption, waste generation

EVS Inputs

Education, cultural influences, media, and socio-political factors shaping environmental values.

EVS Outputs

Decisions, actions, and behaviors resulting from EVS inputs, affecting environmental management.

Dynamics of Environmental Perspectives

EVSs evolve due to new information, experiences, or changes in cultural and societal norms.

Environmental Movement Origins

Growing awareness of environmental damage and conservation importance led to its development.

Factors Driving the Environmental Movement

Influential literature, key individuals, and international agreements.

Role of Literature in the Environmental Movement

Raising awareness and inspiring action.

Key Individuals in the Environmental Movement

Influential figures advocating for environmental protection.

International Agreements

Establishing global frameworks for addressing environmental challenges.