1.1 - Perspectives

Question 1

what is a perspective

Answer 1

how an individual sees and understands a particular situation. They are formed based on individual assumptions, values and beliefs

Question 2

factors influencing perspective

Answer 2

• Sociocultural norms
  Scientific understandings
• Laws
• Religion
• Economic conditions
• Local and global events
• Lived experience

Question 3

what are environmental perspectives

Answer 3

how individuals view the environment. Human based may prioritize human interest and environmentalist may have more intrinsic values.

Question 4

what are social perspectives

Answer 4

attitudes and responses to social issues e.g. poverty. A collective perspective may prioritize wellbeing of a community. An individualistic perspective may prioritize personal responsibility.

Question 5

what are values

Answer 5

qualities or principles that people believe have worth and importance in life. They guide behaviors, attitudes and decisons.

Question 6

what are value surveys?

Answer 6

Values surveys investigate the perspectives of social groups towards various environmental issues. They help us understand how environmental concerns are viewed and prioritized by individuals or communities

Question 7

what are behavior time graphs

Answer 7

Behaviour-time graphs can be valuable tools for:
- Monitoring progress towards sustainability goals
- Evaluating the effectiveness of environmental initiatives

Behavior-time graphs show changes in behaviors or lifestyles over time
- They help to visualize trends, patterns and shifts in behavior related to environmental actions

Question 8

what are worldviews

Answer 8

the lenses through which groups of people to see and understand the world around them. They are made up of cultural beliefs, philosophical ideas, political opinions, religious teachings and many other factors

Question 9

difference between worldviews and perspectives

Answer 9

worldviews encompass a broader and deeper set of beliefs, values and ideologies, whereas perspectives are more specific.

Question 10

what is an environmental value system (EVS)

Answer 10

the way that an individual, or any group of people, perceives the environment and the resources it provides them with

Question 11

EVS inputs

Answer 11

• cultural influences
• social influences
• economic status
• political context
• media

Question 12

EVS outputs

Answer 12

• perspectives
• evaluations
• decisions
• actions

Question 13

3 EVS categories

Answer 13

• ecocentric
• anthropocentric
• technocentric

Question 14

features of ecocentrism

Answer 14

• an ethical approach that prioritizes the intrinsic values of nature and the environment over human needs and interests.
• all living organisms have inherent worth and should be protected

Question 15

features of anthropocentrism

Answer 15

• a worldview that places humans at the centre of the universe, prioritizing human needs and interests over those of other living beings and the environment
• This approach emphasizes that humans have the right to use natural resources and ecosystems for their own benefit

Question 16

features of technocentrism

Answer 16

• a worldview that places technology and human ingenuity at the centre of all problem-solving and decision-making processes, often overlooking the impact on the environment and other living beings
• this approach emphasizes the use of technology to overcome environmental problems and maintain human well-being

Question 17

advantages of ecocentrism

Answer 17

• Reuses materials so more sustainable
• Minimizes environmental impact by encouraging restraint
• Better for long-term human wellbeing
• No need to wait for technology to develop

Question 18

disadvantages of ecocentrism

Answer 18

• Conservation can be expensive with no obvious or quick economic return
• Many countries are still developing economically and argue they should be allowed to continue
• Difficult to change individual attitudes

Question 19

advantages of technocentrism

Answer 19

• Substitutes materials so avoids costly industrial change
• Provides solutions so people are not inconvenienced
• Allows social and economic progress

Question 20

disadvantages of technocentrism

Answer 20

• Allows even greater rates of resource consumption
• May give rise to further environmental problems
• High cost
• Humans increasingly disconnected from nature

Question 21

what is the environmental movement

Answer 21

the term used to describe humanity’s increasing awareness of the damage we are causing to the environment and the importance of conserving the environmental health of our planet

Question 22

Individuals and Environmental Activist involved in the environmental movement

Answer 22

• David Attenborough
• conservation
• Renowned naturalist and broadcaster, raising awareness of environmental issues through documentaries
• Educated and inspired audiences worldwide, fostering greater appreciation and concern for the natural world

Question 23

Literature involved in the environmental movement

Answer 23

• Rachel Carson
• Silent Spring (1962)
• Outlined the harmful effects of the pesticide DDT passing along food chains to top predators
• Led to widespread concern about the dangers of pesticide use and increased awareness of environmental pollution

Question 24

Media involved in the environmental movement

Answer 24

• Al Gore
• an inconvenient truth
• A documentary film of former US Vice President Al Gore giving a lecture on climate change and its consequences
• The film got extensive publicity, reaching a huge worldwide audience and triggering a major shift in public opinion in the USA

Question 25

major environmental disaster involved in the environmental movement

Answer 25

- Chernobyl nuclear disaster - Nuclear reactor exploded—radioactive fallout covered large areas of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia—336 000 people had to be evacuated and cancer incidence increased in surrounding area - Reinforced society’s fear and negative perceptions surrounding nuclear power, strengthening calls for safer energy alternatives and stricter regulations on nuclear facilities

Question 26

international conference involved in the environmental movement

Answer 26

- Kyoto Protocol - An international treaty building on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that committed state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - 192 parties committed to reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane

Question 27

new technologies involved in the environmental movement

Answer 27

- Green Revolution - Agricultural advancements increasing crop yields in the mid-20th century, addressing food scarcity - Improved food security and reduced pressure on natural habitats, but also raised concerns about the environmental impacts of intensive farming practices

Question 28

scientific discoveries involved in the environmental movement

Answer 28

- Pesticide and biocide toxicity - Studies revealing the harmful effects of pesticides and biocides on ecosystems and human health - Increased awareness of environmental risks, leading to regulatory measures, pesticide bans, and adoption of alternative pest control methods