GS Paper 3:
Topics Covered: Conservation related issues.
Context:
Recent effects of climate change (Heatwaves, droughts etc.) have brought into focus two strands of environmental philosophy that reinvent the relationship between nature and humans — shallow and deep ecologism.
- The concepts emerged in the 1970s, when Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss sought to look beyond the popular pollution and conservation movements of his milieu to address environmental degradation.
- By placing humans at the heart of the environmental crisis, Næss outlines the difference between the two styles of ecologism.
What is shallow ecologism?
Also referred to as weak ecologism.
The powerful and fashionable fight against pollution and resource depletion is shallow ecologism or environmentalism.
Exponents of this philosophy believe in continuing our present lifestyle, but with specific tweaks aimed at minimising the damage to the environment.
- It may include the use of vehicles that cause less pollution or air conditioners that do not release chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
What is deep ecologism?
Deep ecologism believes that humans should radically change their relationship with nature.
- It aspires to sustain nature by making large-scale changes to our lifestyle.
- These may include limiting the commercial farming of meat to preserve forest areas and reduce the artificial fattening of animals, or the reshaping of transport systems which involve the use of internal combustion engines.
What it advocates?
- Robust policy formulation and implementation.
- Policy-making must be aided by the reorientation of technical skills and inventions in new directions that are ecologically responsible.
- Re-evaluate the ‘survival of the fittest’ doctrine. Survival of the fittest should be understood through the human ability to cooperate and coexist with nature, as opposed to exploiting or dominating it.
Deep ecologism thus prioritises a ‘live and let live’ attitude over an ‘either you or me’ approach.
Issues with shallow ecologism:
Its proponents reject shallow ecologism for prioritising humans above other forms of life, and subsequently preserving the environmentally destructive way of life in modern societies.
- Deep ecologism maintains that by sustaining this lifestyle, shallow ecologism further widens the inequalities between countries.
- For instance, despite constituting only five per cent of the world’s population, the U.S. accounts for 17% of the world’s energy consumption and is the second largest consumer of electricity after China.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss.
- Ecologism.
- Shallow ecologism.
- Deep ecologism.
Mains Link:
Discuss the significance of Deep ecologism.
Q.4) Who was the proponent of Shallow and deep ecologism?
- Arne Næss.
- Alfred Wegner.
- Florence Nightingale.
- None of the above.
Sources: the Hindu.
