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1.1 Environmental Value Systems

1.1.1 The Environmental Movement

  • The environmental movement is a global effort to:
    • Increase awareness of environmental health importance.
    • Coordinate actions to reduce negative human impacts on Earth.
    • Promote sustainable development and natural resource use.
    • Implement changes in public policy and individual behaviors.
  • Key events and influences:
    • Literature
    • Media
    • Scientific Research
    • Technological Advancements
    • Major International Disasters
    • International Agreements
Literature and Media
  • Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962)
    • Outlined harmful effects of DDT pesticide.
    • Passing along food chains to top predators.
    • Led to widespread concern about pesticide dangers and environmental pollution.
  • The Limits to Growth report (1972)
    • Commissioned by the Club of Rome.
    • Outlined effects of increasing global population on Earth’s finite resources.
    • Increased awareness of unsustainable natural resource use.
  • Gaia by James Lovelock (1979)
    • Suggested Earth is a self-regulatory 'living organism.'
    • Showed humanity's power to upset Earth’s balance with deadly consequences.
  • An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
    • Documentary film by Al Gore on climate change.
    • Reached a huge audience, triggering a major shift in public opinion in the USA
International Conferences and Agreements
  • Stockholm Declaration (1972)
    • First major UN conference on international environmental issues.
    • Influential in setting environmental targets and shaping local and international action.
  • Rio Earth Summit (1992)
    • UN Conference on Environment and Development.
    • Outlined the need for radical changes in attitudes towards the environment.
    • Led to ‘Agenda 21’ for sustainable development.
  • Kyoto Protocol (1997)
    • International treaty building on the UNFCCC.
    • Committed state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
    • 192 parties committed to reducing emissions of gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and HFCs.
  • Rio+20 (2012)
    • UN Conference on Sustainable Development marking the 20th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit.
    • Aimed to secure further political commitment to sustainable development.
    • Helped assess progress on targets and identify emerging challenges.
  • Paris Agreement (2015)
    • International treaty agreed by 195 parties at COP21.
    • Aimed to hold global average temperature increase below 22 °C above pre-industrial levels.
    • Called for a 50% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
  • Glasgow Climate Pact (2021)
    • International agreement between 197 countries at COP26.
    • Reaffirmed the Paris Agreement's temperature goal.
    • First climate deal to explicitly commit to reducing coal use (