Foundations of ESS
Topic 1.1 Environmental Value Systems
What are EVS? A worldview that shapes the way an individual, or group,
perceives and evaluates environmental issues.
It is a system because it has inputs (education, media, religion) and
outputs (decisions, perspectives, actions)
EVS
Ecocentrist Antropocentrist Technocentrist
Environmental
Deep ecologist Soft ecologist Cornucopian
manager
Ecocentric view: puts ecology and nature as central to humanity and emphasizes
a less materialistic approach to life
o Deep ecologists: put more value on nature than humanity. They also
believe in that there should be minimum disturbance for natural
processes.
o Soft ecology: Self-sufficiency in resource management
, Antropocentric view: argues that humans must sustainably manage the global
system through taxes, policies, legislation.
Technocentric view: argues that technological developments can provide
solutions for environmental problems. Scientific research encouraged to form
policies and understand how systems can be controlled.
o Environmental managers: promote working to create change. Belief that
current economic growth can be sustained if environmental issues are
managed by legal action or political agreement.
o Cornucopian: do not see environmental issues as “problems”. New
resources and tech will solve any problem as they are encountered.
Examples:
Native Americans:
o Ecocentric because:
o Nobody owns property
o Low impact technologies
o Laws handed down through oral tradition
o Animals, plants and nature objects have spirituality
Buddhists:
o Belief of living in balance with nature
o Vegetarian diet is better for environment
Topic 1.1 Environmental Value Systems
What are EVS? A worldview that shapes the way an individual, or group,
perceives and evaluates environmental issues.
It is a system because it has inputs (education, media, religion) and
outputs (decisions, perspectives, actions)
EVS
Ecocentrist Antropocentrist Technocentrist
Environmental
Deep ecologist Soft ecologist Cornucopian
manager
Ecocentric view: puts ecology and nature as central to humanity and emphasizes
a less materialistic approach to life
o Deep ecologists: put more value on nature than humanity. They also
believe in that there should be minimum disturbance for natural
processes.
o Soft ecology: Self-sufficiency in resource management
, Antropocentric view: argues that humans must sustainably manage the global
system through taxes, policies, legislation.
Technocentric view: argues that technological developments can provide
solutions for environmental problems. Scientific research encouraged to form
policies and understand how systems can be controlled.
o Environmental managers: promote working to create change. Belief that
current economic growth can be sustained if environmental issues are
managed by legal action or political agreement.
o Cornucopian: do not see environmental issues as “problems”. New
resources and tech will solve any problem as they are encountered.
Examples:
Native Americans:
o Ecocentric because:
o Nobody owns property
o Low impact technologies
o Laws handed down through oral tradition
o Animals, plants and nature objects have spirituality
Buddhists:
o Belief of living in balance with nature
o Vegetarian diet is better for environment
