Environmental Ethics (EE)

 EE refers to discipline in philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings and the
environment.

 EE broadly deals with environment and its value, endangered species and restoration of nature.

The major factors that influence environmental ethics are,

1) New effects on nature: Modern technological civilization greatly affects nature.

2) New knowledge about nature: (i) Modern science teaches us that how burning of fossil fuels and
clearing forests change the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and in turn the climate change.
Updating of knowledge and raising new ethical issues are needed to initiate remedial action globally.

3) Expanding moral concerns: When it comes to environmental issues, people attribute the problems to
animals, trees, etc. but more importantly human civilization should be brought to the centre of the
problems and made responsible by expanding moral ethics to include environment.
 What is environmental ethics?

It is the study of ethics that deals with

Ethics the relationship between humans
and natural environment

Criteria that helps to differentiate

Ethical standard good from bad or right from wrong.

Deals with moral principles to promote

Environmental ethics human values or good society
 Environmental Concerns in India

Burgeoning population.

Land degradation due to water and wind erosion (159 million ha),
salinity and alkalinity (8 million ha), and river action and other
factors ( 7 million ha).

The annual rate of loss of the forest cover is 47,500 hectares.

Loss of habitat leads to the extinction of plant, animal and

microbial species. Around 1500 plant and animal species are
reported to be in endangered category.
 Environmental Concerns in India
 Wetlands of India which are rich in aquatic are badly affected by the pollution and over-
exploitation.

 Coastal areas have been severely affected due to indiscriminate construction, illegal
encroachment, waste disposal, etc.

 Non-judicious use of water for different sectors such as agriculture, domestic, energy
generation, industry that caused the depletion of water source.

 Increased pollution resulting from improper means of disposal of toxic wastes and non
biodegradable consumer articles.

 Absence of mechanism to indigenously arrive at a reliable estimate of total greenhouse

gas emissions arise from various sources such as agriculture, animals, forest, energy
production and consumption, etc. Such reliable data are required to deal with
international law, protocols, and conventions on environment-related issues.
 Different types of environmental ethics

1. Anthropocentric Human-centered (Humans are the only

holders of moral standing)
2. Stewardship Encourages fair, just and equal treatment
of employees and shareholders.
3. Biocentric It extends the status of moral object from
human beings to all living things in
nature.
4. Ecocentric It is the philosophical study of value of
the environmental and the relationships
of human to that environment.
5. Ecofeminism Ecofeminism affirms the equal value of all
life both living and non-living on earth.

https://www.slideshare.net/MrsERivera/environmental-ethics-61532298
 Does the ethical decisions of human beings affect environment?

Should we
continue to Resource depletion:
 We should have profound respect for nature. propagate?
 Depletion of Species &
Habits
 Depletion of Fossil Fuels.

Should we
continue to cut
Ethical Should we
continue to use
gasoline
forests?
decisions powered
vehicles?

Your
thoughts??
What
environmental
Pollution: obligations do
 Air pollution we need to
keep for future
 Land pollution generations?
 Water pollution
 We must maintain harmonious relationship with other
species.