Environmental Ethics and Economics
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Environmental Ethics and Economics
OutlinePerception of EnvironmentEnvironmental EthicsEconomics
Perception of EnvironmentCulture: the ensemble of knowledge, beliefs,
values, and learned ways of life shared by a group of people
Worldview: person’s perception of the world and their place within it
FactorsReligionCommunity ExperiencePolitical IdeologyScientific Understanding
Environmental EthicsEthics: set of moral principles or values held
by a person or societystudy of good and badcriteria, standards, rules people use to make
decisionsEnvironmental ethics: application of ethical
standards to relationships between humans and nonhuman entities
Weighing the IssueDo you think that nations with larger
ecological footprints have an ethical obligation to reduce their environmental impact, so as to leave more resources available for nations with smaller footprints?
Three Ethical Perspectives
Development EthicPeople are and should be masters of
naturePrevailing ethic of American
government
Conservation & Preservation
In Response to Development Ethic
Conservation Ethic
conservation: people should put natural resources to use but they have a responsibility to manage them wisely
Preservation Ethic
preservation: people should protect the natural environment in a pristine, unaltered state
Hurricane Katrina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvoEiBnpCc8
Environmental JusticeFair and equitable treatment of all people with
respect to environmental policy and practice, regardless of their income, race, or ethnicity.
Movement fueled by perception that poor people and minorities tend to be exposed to a greater share of pollutionhazardsenvironmental degradation
Were the events of Katrina a form of “environmental
racism”?
Slumdog Millionaire
Movie Trailerhttp://content.foxsearchlight.com/
videos/node/2954Inside Slumdog: Boyle on Destinyhttp://content.foxsearchlight.com/
videos/node/3034
An International IssueWealthy nations impose pollution on poorer
nationsMillions of tons of wasteDump in nations with lax restrictions
Basal Conventionprohibits international export of waste, trade, and
illegal dumping169 countries ratified (US, world’s largest exporter,
did not)
Ethics & Eco-nomics Is environmental policy good for the economy? Economics: study of how people decide to use
scarce resources to provide goods and services in the face of demand for them
Environmental problem = Economic problem Pollution - depletion of scarce resources (clean air,
water, or soil)
Ethics & Eco-nomics Economy: social system that converts
resources into goods, material commodities manufactured for and bought by individuals and businesses; and services, work done for others as a form of business
Economy & the Environment
Economies exist within the environment inputs from the
environments discharge outputs (waste)
into environment Natural resources are
“goods” produced by the environment
Environment supports economy.
Ecosystem services: essential services that support economic activity i.e. cycling nutrients,
purifying air and water
Economy Environment
Millenium Ecosystem Assessment
15 of 24 ecosystem services are being used unsustainably
Negative impact on economyHarming poor people more than wealthyRestoring ecosystem services ->
primary avenue for alleviating poverty
Neoclassical Economics Can have implications for the environment 4 Assumptions
1. Resources are infinite or substitutable1. Was this true for the Easter Islanders?
2. Costs and benefits are internal (buyer and seller)3. Long term effects should be discounted4. Growth is good
Is growth good? Is “more and bigger” always better? US frenzy of consumption due to:
advertising technology availability of goods (global trade)
affluenza: the way material goods fail to bring contentment to people affluent enough to afford them
Is economic growth like cancer?
Market Failure & Ecolabeling
When markets do not reflect the full costs and benefits of actions
Economists contrive ways to use aspects of the market to counteract market failure Ex: labels showing how the products were grown, harvested,
or manufactured Promote socially responsible purchasing and
investing
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