In this episode, we take a deep dive into the rationales out there for degrading our environment and think about some of the theories around conservation and environmental ethics. People have diverse beliefs about our relationship with the natural world, from believing that exploitation is our right to treating all living beings as equals and living with an understanding of our profound connectedness with our environment. Joining in the conversation, you will hear about the convictions that drive people to either care for or cause damage to the environment, and why commonly-held resources such as water, air, and land often get polluted or overgrazed.
We also weigh up the pros and cons of certain conservation strategies, including leveraging peer pressure, privatizing property, penalizing polluters, and advocating all the personal benefits of going greener. We also cover some of the historical figures who have contributed to our changing perspective on natural resources as well as the prominent theories and movements and the particular aspects of conservation they each focus on. At the end of this episode, you will also know more about your own understanding and whether you have an anthropocentric, biocentric, or eco-centric approach to the environment.
Key Points From This Episode:
Quotables:
“Overall we know that more people and more impact per person equals more pressure on the planet.” — Kristina Hunter [0:01:33]
“All too often, the fines involved in ‘polluter pays’ systems are just far too low, and that means that sometimes companies just say, ‘Well, that’s a cost of doing business, I’ll pay the fine.’” — Kristina Hunter [0:09:09]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: