Environmentalism | Geography Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

• Environmentalism is a political and ethical movement aimed at improving and safeguarding the natural environment by addressing harmful human activities. It involves adopting political, economic, and social structures that promote the well-being of the environment, as well as reevaluating humanity's relationship with nature. This movement emphasizes the importance of environmental laws, regulations, and international conventions.
• There are two primary intellectual categories within environmentalism: anthropocentric (human-centered) and biocentric (life-centered). These categories are also referred to as "shallow" ecology versus "deep" ecology, and "technocentrism" versus "ecocentrism."
• Anthropocentric approaches primarily focus on the negative consequences of environmental degradation on humans and their interests, such as health, recreation, and overall quality of life. In contrast, biocentric approaches emphasize the intrinsic value of all living beings and ecosystems, regardless of their usefulness to humans.

Thinkers & Works Related to Environmentalism

In the 1970s, the American Association of Geographers (AAG) established a commission as part of a government initiative to study environmental issues and promote environmental education. They also sponsored a task force to address issues related to environmental quality. The work conducted by the AAG can be broadly categorized into two areas:

• The traditional geographical approach, which involved describing and analyzing environmental problems and extensively documenting human impact on the environment.
• The issues of environmental management, which focused on addressing the causes of environmental problems and suggesting societal responses for dealing with environmental hazards. This approach was popularized by O'Riordan.

O'Riordan identified two types of approaches that were prevalent in public debates on environmental issues:

• Thinkers like Paul Ehrlich, who wrote the book "Population Bomb," believed that the primary cause of all environmental problems was population increase. He promoted the concept of Zero Population Growth (stabilization of the population). Ehrlich's ideas have their roots in Malthusian theories, and he is considered a Neo-Malthusian.
• Thinkers like Commoners, who believed that the problems lie in technological advancements and exploitative economic systems that have led to the depletion of natural resources and pollution.

Both of these approaches have strong geographical relevance and were taken up during the social relevance phase.
Environmentalism gained prominence due to two significant works:

•  Rachel Carson's book "The Silent Spring," which detailed the effects of pesticides and insecticides in agriculture.
• "The Limits to Growth," published in 1972 by The Club of Rome, led by Danis Middows, which argued that unsustainable growth would have a negative impact on the environment.

In the United States, the history of environmentalism dates back even further, with some tracing it to Gifford Pinshet and George Perkinmarsh as early as the 1860s. According to O'Riordan, environmentalism encompasses a wide range of ideas and practices.

Forms of Environmentalism

There are two primary forms of environmentalism: ecocentrism and technocentrism.

• Ecocentrism is an approach that focuses on ecological initiatives and finding solutions within the environment itself. This often involves the concept of sustainable development, such as promoting eco-tourism. The central theme of ecocentrism is the adaptation of humans within the limits of the environment. For example, the School of Gaianism believes that the Earth is a self-contained, self-adjusting system, similar to a living organism. This system always strives for balance, and the consequences of this balance may not always be conducive to human survival. In other words, the Earth, or Gaia, will survive, but not necessarily the human species if Gaia readjusts itself.
• Technocentrism, on the other hand, is an approach that seeks solutions in technological and scientific advancements. It is based on the belief that all human problems can be addressed through innovations and scientific interventions, such as implementing emission standards. This is a neo-classical approach that follows the maxim "necessity is the mother of invention." An example of technocentrism is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which aims to preserve genes to prevent them from extinction.

In today's world, most environmental interventions, planning, and disaster management strategies incorporate a mix of both ecocentrism and technocentrism approaches. For instance, biodiversity conservation can focus on creating biosphere reserves (an ecocentrism approach) and managing animal populations through radio collars and artificial breeding (a technocentrism approach).

Environmental Movement

The environmental movement began gaining momentum in the early 1970s with the establishment of the world's first green parties, the Values Party in New Zealand and the United Tasmania Group in Australia. In 1979, the first explicitly green member of a national legislature was elected in Switzerland. By the late 1980s, environmentalism had evolved into a global and national political force.

• International environmental non-governmental organizations, such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and the World Wildlife Fund, expanded their presence worldwide, setting up offices in various countries and establishing centralized international headquarters. These headquarters coordinated lobbying campaigns and served as campaign centers and information clearinghouses for their national affiliate organizations.
• While a few bilateral and multilateral international environmental agreements existed before the 1960s, the environmental movement gained significant momentum following the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. The public debate on the environment continued to evolve, as evidenced by the organization of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This summit was attended by representatives from 180 countries, various business groups, non-governmental organizations, and the media.
• Key outcomes of the environmental movement include the Kyoto Protocol, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement. In India, this movement has led to the implementation of environmentally friendly initiatives such as Green Plant, Green City, Eco-tourism, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and other similar schemes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, environmentalism is a crucial movement aimed at protecting and preserving the natural environment by addressing harmful human activities and promoting sustainable practices. With its roots in the works of influential thinkers and writers, the movement has evolved to encompass a wide range of ideas and approaches, including ecocentrism and technocentrism. The environmental movement has grown into a global political force, resulting in significant international agreements and initiatives aimed at promoting the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Environmentalism

What is the primary goal of the environmentalism movement?

The primary goal of environmentalism is to improve and safeguard the natural environment by addressing harmful human activities, promoting the well-being of the environment, and reevaluating humanity's relationship with nature. This involves adopting political, economic, and social structures that emphasize the importance of environmental laws, regulations, and international conventions.

What is the difference between anthropocentric and biocentric approaches in environmentalism?

Anthropocentric approaches focus on the negative consequences of environmental degradation on humans and their interests, such as health, recreation, and overall quality of life. In contrast, biocentric approaches emphasize the intrinsic value of all living beings and ecosystems, regardless of their usefulness to humans.

What are some key works and thinkers related to environmentalism?

Some key works include Rachel Carson's "The Silent Spring," which detailed the effects of pesticides and insecticides in agriculture, and "The Limits to Growth," published in 1972 by The Club of Rome. Thinkers like Paul Ehrlich, author of "Population Bomb," and Commoners, who believed in the role of technological advancements and exploitative economic systems, have also contributed to the environmentalism movement.

What are the two primary forms of environmentalism, and how do they differ?

The two primary forms of environmentalism are ecocentrism and technocentrism. Ecocentrism focuses on ecological initiatives and finding solutions within the environment itself, often involving sustainable development concepts. Technocentrism seeks solutions in technological and scientific advancements, believing that all human problems can be addressed through innovations and interventions.

How has the environmental movement evolved over time, and what are some key outcomes?

The environmental movement began gaining momentum in the early 1970s with the establishment of the world's first green parties and has since evolved into a global and national political force. Key outcomes of the movement include the Kyoto Protocol, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, and the implementation of environmentally friendly initiatives in various countries.