Environmentalism Theory

1. THEORIES OF ENVIRONMENTALISM

2. ENVIRONMENTALISM – Enviro-prudence
 A theory that views environment rather than heredity as
the important factor in the development and especially the
cultural and intellectual development of an individual or
group
 Advocacy of the preservation, restoration, or improvement
of the natural environment; especially : the movement to
control pollution
 Environmentalism refers to a social movement and
associated body of thought that expresses concern for the
state of the natural environment and seeks to limit the
impact of human activities on the environment.

3.  Awareness
 Knowledge
 Attitudes
 Skills and Capacity Building
 Participation

4. Environmentalism can be described as a social movement or as an
ideology focused on the welfare of the environment.
Environmentalism seeks to protect and conserve the elements of
earth's ecosystem, including water, air, land, animals, and plants,
along with entire habitats such as rainforests, deserts and oceans.
Concepts dealing with environmental issues include the
management of natural resources, overpopulation, commercial
logging, urbanization and global warming. The effects of human
development ad activity have harmed and altered the earth's
natural state. Environmentalism works to correct the damage as
well as prevent future destruction.

5.  PUBLIC HEALTH
 CONSERVATION
 PRESERVATION OF NATURE
 SMOKE ABATEMENT
 MINICIPAL HOUSEKEEPING
 OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE
 AIR AND WATER POLLUTION

6.  Environmental thinking began
mainly after the Industrial
Revolution.
 The industrial period gave rise to
modern environmental pollution as
it is generally understood today.
 Animal activists began to promote
environmental ideas in an attempt to
save wildlife.
 Literature such as A New Look At
Life on Earth and Slient Spring,
questioning the logic of releasing
large amounts of chemicals into the
environment were published.

7.  By the mid 1970’s
environmental ethics joined in
with anti-Vietnam War
sentiments and other political
issues.
 Mainstream
environmentalism began to
show force with the signing of
the Endangered Species Act in
1973, and the formation of
CITES in 1975.
 The 60’s and 70’s brought
about the “hippie” era where
“tree huggers” set up peaceful
protests against deforestation
 Since environmentalist action
has led to the development of
a new subculture.

8. Egri and Pinfield (1996), in a review of
the literature on organization theory and
the environment, identify four paradigms
for understanding the relationship
between environment, society, and
economy.
 Economic Environmentalism
 Radical environmentalism
 Reform environmentalism
 Ecological modernization, or eco-
modernism(Hajer, 1995)

9. The dominant social paradigm is anthropocentric and neoliberal, encompassing
assumptions that human welfare is aligned with the maximization of economic
growth, personal consumption, and corporate pursuit of profits. 4 key factors
Unlimited economic growth is assumed to flow from -
1. Exploiting infinite natural resources
 2.Technological innovation,
 3.The primacy of markets, and
 4.A minimal role for government.

10. Biocentric, emphasizing the
intrinsic value of nature and
the dependence of human
economic and social life
within larger dynamic
ecosystems. In this paradigm,
environmentalism derives less
from concerns about resource
depletion or harmful toxics,
but more from respect for
other species and appreciation
of the interconnected
complexity and fragility of
ecosystems.

11. Reform environmentalism is the
reconciliation of environmental and
economic goals, expressed in the concept of
“sustainable development,” defined by the
Brundtland Commission as development
that “meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.”
Ecological modernization, or eco-
modernism(Hajer, 1995)
An optimistic expression of reform
environmentalism that places considerable
faith in technology, entrepreneurship, and
markets in the efficient use of environmental
resources and the pursuit of sustainable
development.