International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)

Volume 8 Issue 3, May-June 2024 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470

Environmental Ethics: An Introduction

Paul A. Adekunte1, Matthew N. O. Sadiku2, Janet O. Sadiku3
1
International Institute of Professional Security, Lagos, Nigeria
2
Roy G. Perry College of Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, USA
3
Juliana King University, Houston, TX, USA

ABSTRACT How to cite this paper: Paul A.

Environmental ethics (EE) is a branch of applied philosophy that Adekunte | Matthew N. O. Sadiku | Janet
studies the conceptual foundations of environmental values as well as O. Sadiku "Environmental Ethics: An
issues surrounding societal attitudes, actions, and policies to protect Introduction"
Published in
and sustain biodiversity and ecological systems. The competing
International Journal
paradigms are anthropocentrism, physiocentrism (also called of Trend in
ecocentrism), and theocentrism. Environmental ethics has a great Scientific Research
influence on a wide range of disciplines including environmental law, and Development
environmental sociology, ecotheology, ecological economics, (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456- IJTSRD65002
ecology, and environmental geography. This paper presents an 6470, Volume-8 |
introduction to environmental ethics, challenges, and the way Issue-3, June 2024, pp.762-767, URL:
forward. www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd65002.pdf

KEYWORDS: Environment, Environmental Ethics, Anthropocentrism, Copyright © 2024 by author (s) and
Physiocentrism (or Ecocentrism), Environmental Law, Ecology, International Journal of Trend in
Environmental Geography, Crises, Biodiversity, Ecological systems Scientific Research and Development
Journal. This is an
Open Access article
distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

INTRODUCTION
Environmental ethics as a branch of applied should be evaluated in terms of its utility for us (i.e.
philosophy studies the conceptual foundations of anthropocentrism). However, all environmental
environmental values as well as more concrete issues studies should include an assessment of the intrinsic
surrounding societal attitudes, actions, and policies to value of non-human beings [7]. EE as a branch of
protect and sustain biodiversity and ecological environmental philosophy considers the actual and
systems. The five major environmental problems are: possible ethical relationships between humanity and
climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, non-human nature, as shown in Figure 1. This field of
deforestation, and loss of biodiversity – while study has to consider among other questions to be
solutions lie in promoting renewable energy, habitat investigated, our obligations to the future generations,
conservation, sustainable forestry, and species as well as to other species and even non-living
conservation efforts [1, 2]. components of the natural world [8].
In environmental philosophy, environmental ethics is HISTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
an established field of practical philosophy “which Environmental philosophy has a long history in
reconstructs the essential types of argumentation that western culture. This could be traced back to the
may be made for protecting natural entities and the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi, to the literature
sustainable use of natural resources.” It is concerned works of romanticism poets and transcendentalists,
with the natural environment and humans’ place such as Wordsworth and Thoreau, and to
within it [3, 4]. Environmental Ethics (EE) studies the conservation movements led by Theodore Roosevelt
moral relationship of human beings to the and Gifford Pinchot. Many other factors contributed
environment and its contents [5]. Traditional western to the emergence of environmental philosophy,
ethical views are human-centered or anthropocentric among which is overpopulation, poverty and famine,
[6], which places humans at the center of the the depletion of non-renewable resources, and the
universe; therefore, everything else in existence

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
harmful effects to human and non-human by chemical Zimmerman categorized to include deep ecology,
pollutants [9]. social ecology and ecofeminism.
Environmental Ethics (EE) emerged in the early At the heart of the first set of questions lies the debate
1970s, when environmentalists started urging about whether nature has “instrumental value” or
philosophers to consider the philosophical aspects of “intrinsic value,” “Instrumental value” means that the
environmental problems. Early environmental existence of the environment is only for human
philosophers include Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Richard beings’ interests. On the contrary, “intrinsic value”
Routley Arne Naess, and J. Baird Callicott. refers to how the environment ought to be regarded as
Themovement was an attempt to connect with worthy of respect rather than merely useful. Those in
humanity’s sense of alienation from nature in a support of the intrinsic-value argument hold that
continuing fashion throughout history. Environmental humans do not have the right to define the value
ethics considers the ethical relationships between inherently existing in natural objects. The
humanity and non-human world. A group of the environment has value beyond satisfying human aims
Union of Concerned Scientists, of over two thousand [14]. As opined by Agar, “the intrinsic value
scientists, concluded that climatic change is beyond associated with life forms the foundation of an
dispute, and has already started changing our environmental ethic, enabling us to recognize nature’s
environment. Environmental instability portends ill moral importance” [15]. Whether the environment
for public health and well-being. Extreme weather has intrinsic value or not determines the way human
conditions, species extinction, and increase in beings act.
diseases due to environmental changes are too glaring
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND
to ignore – all of these and more raises crucial issues
SUSTAINABILITY
about environmental justice [10].
Environmental justice is a key concern of
The academic field of environmental ethics grew up environmental ethics. This is defined by the US
in response to the works of Rachel Carson and Environmental Protection Agency as “the fair
Murray Bookchin and events such as the first Earth treatment and meaningful involvement of all people
Day in 1970, when environmentalists started urging regardless of race, color, national origin, or income
philosophers to consider the philosophical aspects of with respect to the development, implementation, and
environmental problems. Holmes Rolston lll is widely enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and
known as the “father of environmental ethics” for his policies” [16], and as per this definition, there are
relentless articulation of the presence of natural both distributive and participative (or procedural)
values in nature. He was an American utilitarian justice issues involving the environment. Distributive
philosopher and theologian who pioneered the fields justice concerns the allocation of burdens and benefits
of environmental ethics and environmental in societies. An important environmental burden is
philosophy [11]. exposure to environmental hazards. Both low-income
CORE DISPUTES IN ENVIRONMENTAL and high-minority communities are disproportionately
PHILOSOPHY exposed to environmental hazards, particularly
Two major core areas of dispute by De Laplante chemical exposure and air and water pollution,
causing division among the academic community on stemming from living and/or working near
the subject of environmental philosophy are [12, 13]: transportation depots, industrial facilities, and waste
1. Do human beings have moral obligations to processing facilities [17,18]. In the U. S., race is
protect or preserve the natural environment? If so, significant to exposure above and beyond income,
what are they, and to whom, or what, are they leading to the use of the term environmental racism.
owned? How are such obligations justified? All over the world, low-income and marginalized
communities including the US are disproportionally
2. What are the root causes of contemporary exposed to ecological hazards from mining,
attitudes and practices with respect to the natural agriculture, and global climate change [19, 20].
environment, and how can we change them?
Participative justice on the other hand, means the
The first set of questions above effectively define the involvement of those affected by decisions in making
field of “environmental ethics.” This helps to the decisions. However, many people adversely
distinguish between anthropocentric and non- affected by policies, institutions, and choices about
anthropocentric approaches to ground the moral environmental matters have no say in their formation,
obligations towards the environment. While the which is a violation of participative justice [21].
answers to the second set of questions effectively Therefore, in order to avoid participative injustices,
define the field known as “radical ecology,” which environmental ethicists have recommended full and

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
meaningful participation, particularly by those whose  Conserve water: use less water to avoid runoff
health and welfare might be affected in environmental and wastewater that eventually end up in the
decision making [22], as shown in figure 2. ocean.
Another area of concern is that of climate justice.  Choose sustainable.
Climate change is unjust from both an  Shop wisely: buy less plastic and use reusable
intergenerational and global perspective, while the shopping bag.
exact nature of this injustice and how to respond to it  Use long-lasting light bulbs: make use of energy
are contested. Central to climate justice is efficient light bulbs which reduce greenhouse gas
determining the moral status and significance of emissions. Switch off light when not in use.
future generations and distant contemporaries, as well  Plant a tree: trees provide us with food and
as working out what practices would be just with oxygen. They help save energy, clean the air, and
respect to them. Majority of the world’s climate help combat climate change.
scientists hold that the Earth’s climate is changing  Don’t release chemicals into our waterways:
and with these being human-induced. Reports by the make use of non-toxic chemicals in the home and
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) office.
says that the period from 1980-1999 to 2090-2099  Bike more: drive less to keep off CO2 emissions
[31].
temperatures are “likely” to rise by between 1.1 and
6.4oC while the sea levels may rise by up to 59 cm CONCLUSION
[23-26]. The driver of these climatic changes is the In the world today we are faced with environmental
emission of greenhouse gases, which calls for the issues and problems, which are related to managing
urgent need to limit the emission of these gases. This nature and the natural resources provided by nature to
is due to the fact that the ecological conditions of provide food for eating, paper for writing, lumber for
people not yet born are impacted by our current construction, and areas for people to participate in
practices, lifestyles, and policies, hence the need for outdoor recreation and experience the aesthetic
sustainable development as shown in Figure 3. enjoyment/beauty of nature. There are issues and
problems related to protecting nature from many
CAUSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
sources of degradation or damage by people [32].
Some human activities that can cause damage,
God’s word found in the Holy Bible provides the
directly or indirectly, to the environment on a global
moral basis in the form of a Christian Environmental
scale include population growth, neoliberal liberal
Ethic that results in responsible and caring
economic policies and rapid economic growth,
stewardship of all of God’s creation, which are
overconsumption, overexploitation, pollution, and
founded on the Principle of Sustained Order and
deforestation – causing disruptions in the usual
Purpose, and the Principle of Universal Corruption
function of ecosystems, which could be serious or
and Redemption. To practice effective Christian
catastrophic. The global world population of between
environmental stewardship, we must work on
9-10 billion people can live sustainably within the
increasing our knowledge of these principles from
earth’s ecosystems if human society works to live
Biblical, scientific and practical policy and
sustainably within planetary boundaries [27].
management perspectives. But stale, book knowledge
Furthermore, greater environmental impacts are
of these principles is not enough to get the job done.
caused by the “excessive consumption of industrial
When we get the deep, and personal understanding of
goods” by the wealthiest populations [28, 29].
the way God loves and sustains all of His creation
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT OR OUR will give us a new and proper perspective of the
PLANET temporal and eternal value and purposes of nature –
The protection of our planet starts with you, i.e. it is transforming how we view and carry out our God-
everyone’s business. Mentioned below are what you given role as caretakers of nature. When we make use
and l can do to protect the earth [30]: of nature, the Christian (and non-Christian) stewards
 Reduce, reuse, and recycle (the three “R’s”): We must recognize that he or she has the responsibility to
must cut down on what we throw away. manage or take care of nature in a way that is not
 Volunteer: volunteer for cleanups in your wasteful or destructive of the original functions of
community. nature designed by God. Humans generally need to
respect plants, animals, and other elements of nature
 Educate: as we further our education, we can help in their created order out of respect for the triune
others understand the importance and value of our God – the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit who
natural resources, as shown in Figure 4. created and continues to sustain the entire earth and
universe [33].

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For more information, the following related books or Review of Environment and Resources, vol. 39,
journals can also be consulted. pp. 419-442.
 Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Ethics. [15] Agar, N. (2001), “Life’s Intrinsic Value:
 The Trumpeter. Science, Ethics, and Nature,” New York:
 Ethics & the Environment Journal. Columbia University Press, pp. 2.
 Ethics, Policy & Environment. [16] US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
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Figure 1. Environmentalism - wikipedia

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Figure 2. Environmental health – Wikipedia

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Figure 3. Sustainable Development – Wikipedia

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Figure 4. Environmental Education - Wikipedia

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m=isch&source=lnms&prmd=ivsnbz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJr5nOxpaGAxVOQkEAHfoFB8wQ0pQJegQ
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