Climate Change Perspectives and Values

Environmental Values Systems

• Definition of Values: Principles or standards of behavior; personal judgment about what is important in life.
• Discussion Points: Personal values may encompass social life, work ethic, creativity, nature, etc.
  • Examples:
  • Music, Teamwork, Trust, Art, Beauty, Ambition, Status, Individuality, Freedom, Science, Nature, etc.

Environmental Values Assessment

• Reflect on your values in relation to the environment based on the following statements. Rate them: Strongly Agree, Agree, Don't Know, Disagree, Strongly Disagree.
  1. Humans are part of nature.
  2. Humans are responsible for global environmental issues.
  3. Our survival depends on environmental resources.
  4. Nomadic and indigenous peoples exemplify environmental balance.
  5. Traditional farming methods are environmentally safe.
  6. Nature can recover from human damage.
  7. Humans have the right to use all Earth’s resources.
  8. Technology can solve the energy crisis.
  9. We can't prevent further climate change effects.
  10. All species have a right to coexist.
  11. Economic progress is more important than aesthetics.
  12. Extinctions as a natural occurrence lessen the impact of human-induced extinctions.
• Discussion Activity: Share and compare responses with peers. What differences exist, and why?

Reflective Exercise

• Write a short paragraph reflecting your beliefs and values regarding environmental interactions and how these influence perspectives on climate change.

Perspectives on Climate Change Solutions

• Anthropocentric View: Prioritizes human interests in managing the environment. Suggestions include policy changes like raising fuel taxes.
• Technocentric View: Believes technological advancements can resolve environmental issues. (Extreme viewpoint: technology will always provide solutions.)
• Ecocentric View: Puts nature at the forefront, advocating for a less materialistic lifestyle focused on ecological preservation.
• Life-centered Approach: Respects the rights of all living organisms, advocating for equal consideration.
• Human-centered Approach: Views humans as separate from nature, promoting its management for human benefit.

Generating Experimental Questions

• Each value system can inspire unique experimental questions. Examples include:
  • Technocentric: How do lab-grown plants affect CO₂ levels?
  • Ecocentric: What is the effect of nature walks on peace levels?
  • Anthropocentric: How do carbon tax measures in different countries impact carbon emissions?

Mitigation vs. Adaptation

• Mitigation: Involves reducing/stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.
• Adaptation: Involves adjusting lifestyles or practices to cope with the effects of climate change, such as relocating due to flooding.

Mitigation Strategies

1. Reduce Energy Consumption:
   • Use renewable energy (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal).
   • Transition to alternatives from fossil fuels.
2. Carbon Capture:
   • Technologies to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.
3. Geo-engineering:
   • Techniques to manipulate environmental processes (e.g., cloud seeding).

Adaptation Strategies

• Change land use with planning legislation.
• Construction that resists flooding (e.g., floating homes).
• Agriculture adjustments like breeding drought-resistant seeds.

Writing and Critique Exercises

• Writing Claim: Identify the best climate solution you believe in. Define it, provide evidence, and rationalize your choice.
• Aim for clarity in your claims, support them with evidence, and connect reasoning to support your stance.
• Peer Review: Swap notebooks and review clarity of claims, relevance of evidence, and connection of reasoning.

Conclusion

• The perspectives and value systems provide a framework for understanding diverse approaches to climate change. Each system's beliefs shape potential solutions and highlight the complexity of human-environment interactions in the face of climate change.