Universal Ethics, the Natural Environment and Climate Change
Abstract
Degraded environment, overuse of natural resources and accelerating climate change is a crisis of ethics- a lack of common values. Together we can and must turn this situation around. By showing compassion to the environment we also show compassion to other people. It is about applying the values embodied in universal ethics in our daily actions that have an impact on the environment and climate change. This text contains examples of simple actions that we can take as individuals to improve the environment and reduce climate change.
Full text
The current crises facing the world in terms of environmental degradation, overuse of natural resources and rapidly accelerating climate change can be seen as a crisis of ethics - a lack of common values. As human beings, we are part of the natural environment and ecosystems. If these systems are not maintained or safeguarded, then the crucial role they play, on which our existence relies, is threatened. If natural resources are overused, they will in time become depleted and no longer available to us. Sustainable use of natural resources must be ensured. We share the Earth and its climate and thus the responsibility lies with us to protect it. These fundamental principles cannot be compromised and compensated for through technological fixes.
What are the critical human values? These are the commonly shared values that are central to all of us and naturally part of the human constitution, regardless of our culture, faith, views or where we live; values that we all can agree to and which unite us and represent equality and respect irrespective of gender or age. These are Universal Ethics - a set of commonly agreed values applied universally. Our values determine and influence how we behave. The challenge that we need to address is that the basic human values, which should guide our lives and interactions, have not been sufficiently respected and practised.
If we had true compassion for our fellow human beings, we would not lead the lives we are currently living or take the actions that are harming others. Many of the policies and actions pursued by individuals, communities and countries do not respect Universal Ethics and are therefore unethical. The lack of values in human interaction manifests itself in the way we relate to the Earth’s environment, natural resources and ecosystems and is simply not sustainable. Another challenge is that there can be insufficient understanding of the links and relationships between certain behaviours and their impact on and implications for the natural environment. A desire to learn more and improve our understanding becomes therefore a necessary personal commitment.
So, what are some of the things we can do to influence policy and make decisions that contribute towards overcoming the challenges we are facing in relation to the environment, natural resources, ecosystems on the planet? What are the positive values that we should be guided by and what are the negative ones that we would do well to try to avoid? In our daily lives, we can find ourselves in situations where we are called upon to make difficult decisions and take the right action. It is important to identify those values that are relevant for a particular decision concerning the environment and natural resources. After consideration of the positive and negative consequences, we can make the most informed decisions in line with Universal Ethics. The contribution of everyone, young or old, is completely essential, no matter how large or small the impact may be. Individually and as a collective we can make a difference. Below is a brief description of the most important positive values to be promoted and the negative ones to be avoided.
Compassion and Concern for Others instead of Indifference
Respect instead of Disrespect
Service to Society and Others instead of Selfishness
Generosity instead of Greed
Patience instead of Impatience
Contentment instead of Discontentment
Honesty instead of Dishonesty
Restraint instead of Recklessness
Discernment and Wisdom instead of Ignorance
Some examples of how positive values can be promoted and negative values avoided in terms of actions in relation to the environment and climate change are given below.
Compassion is about concern for our fellow humans and other living beings and avoiding causing harm to others. Compassion is the basic and overall ethical framework or platform for other human inner values. All or most of the ethical values are closely associated with the environment and natural resources and also relate to compassion.
It is essential that we demonstrate compassion to ecosystems and the environment as they are the basis for life on Earth, which means that we indirectly show compassion to our fellow human beings. Actions resulting in a negative impact on ecosystems and the Earth also have a negative impact on and cause harm to other living beings. We may not realise it and may not see the link between our individual actions and the larger impact but when compounded with actions taken by other people, it becomes more obvious. The ultimate impact can be death, injury, property loss, displacement and threatened livelihoods. If we fully understand the harm we cause to other people, albeit indirectly, we may very likely refrain from taking these injurious actions in the first place.
On the other hand, there are many things we can do that have a positive impact on our planet. These are acts of compassion, which generate a sense of satisfaction and happiness. The more you undertake these actions, the more you are motivated to continue to do them. By recycling and reusing materials the use of natural resources is reduced. Actions or choices that result in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions reduces climate change. The lifestyles enjoyed by millions of people, manufacturing industries and transport systems in one part of the world, generating excessive carbon dioxide emissions and resulting in climate change can lead to a serious negative impact, such as displacement of people, in other parts of the world. Some people also talk about cross-continental climate refugees as a consequence of this.
There are simple choices in our daily life that can have a positive impact on the environment: Use public transport instead of your own car. Buy an electric car instead of one that runs on petrol or diesel. Use renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuel-based energy generation. Take the train instead of flying or, if flying is essential, buy climate-compensated tickets. Use Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs instead of “conventional” light bulbs. Switch off the lights when not using a room. Avoid having to throw away old and unused food. Buy ecologically produced food. There are many more examples like these of how we can make a difference as individuals through the choices we make every day.
Indifference is the opposite of compassion and in this context means that we either do not care about how other people feel or that we are unable to understand how they feel. We may consciously ignore or disregard the potential impact of our actions on the natural environment and other people’s lives. Some people may apply a self-centred perspective: “I have worked very hard all my life and I am entitled to the lifestyle I have; others must fend for themselves.”
Respect for the lives and needs of fellow human beings is a fundamental value. What we have in common is that we are human beings and that we are equal, which means that all human beings are to be given the same respect and recognition. Every individual is worth one. There are no persons worth point five or two. From this follows that we respect other peoples’ needs and the necessities in their lives and that we do not take actions favourable to ourselves, which are at the expense of others. Respect also implies refraining from causing harm to other individuals. If we respect other people, it also follows that we must show respect for the natural environment and ensure the requirements to sustain it are met and that human needs are in balance with the environment. Respect for functioning ecosystems means respect for the biodiversity that is part of the ecosystem. Disrespect on the other hand means that we put ourselves and our needs first and do not care about others. It implies that we consider ourselves superior to others and thus do not respect their needs and requirements, including access to life essential resources such as water and the right to enjoy a clean and healthy environment. We put our own short-term needs above the long-term needs of the environment and the planet.
Service to society and others is about how we can contribute to the common good for the benefit of all. What can we, as individuals or as members of a group, do which will help to improve the lives of others? Keeping the street, neighbourhood and the environment clean is a simple practical task that anyone can take part in. In many places, littering or throwing cigarette butts in the street seems to be normal and acceptable behaviour for some individuals. You may argue that these are petty matters, but are they? Is this not showing disrespect for others? Who will bear the cost of cleaning up the discarded litter? Normally, the communal waste services would end up doing this at a cost to the tax payers. If we display such an attitude for “minor” matters, how do we act in other situations when a lot more is at stake? Is this an indicator of the lack of values of an individual, community, city or a country and the opposite of providing service to society? Reducing our consumption of energy and shifting to renewable energy sources result in reduced emissions and climate change as does using a bicycle or walking instead of driving a car. Looking after local and wider ecosystems and promoting and protecting biodiversity safeguards the role provided by these systems to society and humankind. Selfishness means that we are primarily interested in looking after our own interests and pleasing ourselves, even if these are to the detriment of others, society and the environment.
Generosity and charitable giving means we are ready to support those who are worse off and negatively affected by, for example, climate change. People who have been displaced by these changes or whose health, assets and livelihoods have been affected deserve our generosity and help. People living on low-lying islands in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean such as the Maldives have been or are in the process of being displaced. They need our support to resettle in other areas or countries. A recent example is the outpouring of support to the victims of the bushfires in Australia. Another example is that poor people sometimes overuse natural resources, such as firewood for cooking, because they do not have any other option. Financial and other types of support for poorer countries with a focus on disadvantaged people and their unsustainable livelihoods are important examples of generosity and basic humanity. Providing financial support to organisations that are dedicated to the protection of the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems and preventing further damage from climate change is a particularly important act in order to proactively prevent further negative impact on people around the world. Greed often drives unsustainable exploitation and overuse of natural resources. Another example of greed is industrial activities that cause serious pollution resulting in damage to the environment. Typically, this also has a greater negative impact on poorer and more vulnerable people in society. It can also involve using technology that generates excessive carbon dioxide emissions, such as coal powered energy plants. Avarice prevents us from being generous when we have the opportunity and the means to give to needy people and good causes.
Patience is an important value, especially when it is about reaching longterm goals. It is essential never to give up, to persevere and continue to work hard on protecting the environment and reducing climate change. To develop renewable energy sources technology often requires longterm investment and effort. Successful advocacy work is often achieved through patient work and systematic and fact-based argumentation. When you see the damage done to the environment and the flagrant abuse of endangered animal and plant species, anger can be a logical reaction but patient action is essential to prevent and stop the irregular conduct. Impatience can lead to projects, strategies and policies with potentially negative impacts being pushed through quickly, before the full knowledge about their consequences are available. Political perspectives are often myopic and politicians would like to see results within the term of office and some are therefore ready to compromise with environmental considerations that could lead to longer implementation periods. The same applies to investors who are interested in a quick and high return on their investments.
Contentment translates into being satisfied and happy with what you have. Many people are on a constant pursuit of finding satisfaction and happiness in life through a materialistic focus and the acquisition of “things” and “thrills”. The satisfaction of having acquired a new item is often short-lived and soon leaves an emptiness and vacuum behind, which is then overcome by new purchases. This can become a vicious circle of overconsumption and the act of shopping becomes a way of life. Many more people around the world now have the required wealth to allow them to engage in such a lifestyle. This does not lead to real happiness but results in unnecessary use and overuse of natural resources resulting in waste and pollution, which has a negative impact on ecosystems and contributes to climate change.
The value of being content focuses on appreciating and showing gratitude for what we have in order to have satisfactory and balanced lives and not having a strong desire for what you do not really need. It is about appreciating and valuing relations with other human beings, the extraordinary values of the natural world and spiritual values. This perspective supports a more sustainable lifestyle that is more in line with living within the capacity of ecosystems and planet Earth’s natural boundaries. Discontentment means that you find it hard to be content and always look for something else in addition to what you already have as you believe this will buy you happiness. This often results in overconsumption and a focus on acquiring materialistic things or instant thrills. More natural resources and energy are used to produce these items and when later disposed of, generate waste, emissions and often pollution.
Honesty. By simply following the rules, regulations and laws in place for how we are expected to relate to our natural environment, we maintain honesty. Breaking laws or disregarding the rules in place violates the value of honesty. This is not only illegal but also unethical. Honesty is also about fairness, equality and equal access to resources. Why do some people have greater access to resources than others? How can we justify that some water their lawns and fill their swimming pools, while there are individuals nearby who do not have access to or cannot afford to pay for clean water to meet even their most basic human needs?
Illegal exploitation of natural resources, unlawful extraction of groundwater resources or discharge of pollution into the environment are examples of dishonest actions and behaviour. Another example of dishonesty is the trade in and consumption of protected endangered wildlife, which is an illegal practice. Many species have become extinct due to people killing and trading animals. The Coronavirus is said to originate from bats but Chinese scientists have stated that pangolins are an intermediate host of the virus. Pangolins are a threatened species and, since 2016, trade in pangolins has been banned internationally. In China, people eat their meat as they believe it has medicinal properties. The consequence is that they have contracted the Coronavirus. An unethical behaviour has resulted in the greatest global crisis since the Second World War, causing tremendous harm to millions of people, deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, huge costs to many countries, economic recession, unemployment and loss of peoples’ livelihoods around the world.
Restraint means to think twice and not do anything that is not well thought through. It is important to be well informed, to have the wisdom about the consequences of our actions and decisions, to allow ourselves to reflect before making decisions, to be cautious and maintain a precautionary approach. We can all reduce our food waste, reuse materials and recycle more. Reducing water use is essential everywhere and especially in many parts of the world facing water scarcity. Do we need to change car every year and wear the latest fashionable clothes or could we reduce overconsumption and make do with slightly less? The extent and impact of climate change is very difficult to predict. During the last ice age the average temperature was only four degrees colder than the recent average. The planet has already experienced a one point two degree increase in temperature and we are seeing extreme weather patterns including more frequent and severe storms, floods and droughts. If carbon dioxide emissions are not reduced, a three-degree temperature increase is projected. The consequences of this scenario on the climate, the planet and its inhabitants are impossible to predict exactly but would most likely be far-reaching and devastating. Is this situation sufficient reason to restrain our lifestyles somewhat? When the consequences of our decisions are not clear or difficult to predict, we must apply the precautionary principle and adopt the safer option. This is an approach that has been broadly accepted since the 1970s as sound environmental management.
Tools such as the Environmental Impact Assessments and Strategic Environmental Assessments are used to try to protect the environment. It is difficult or even impossible to project how ecosystems will react to the pollution and destruction wreaked on it by people. Once ecosystems have tipped, it is normally not possible to restore or recreate them and the resources that they provide. The Baltic Sea is an example of this, where there are now extensive dead zones and low oxygen conditions, referred to as hypoxia, at the bottom of the sea, now devoid of any life. Any amount of money will not restore the Baltic Sea to its original state as we simply do not possess the knowledge currently of how to do it. Recklessness is about not thinking through the consequences of our actions and the impact they will have on the environment and indirectly on human beings. It is often associated with a selfish behaviour focusing on optimising personal benefits at the expense of others or maximising profits without regard for the consequences to the environment, the climate and other people.
Discernment and Wisdom. It is each person’s responsibility to be as informed as possible about the basis for and the consequences of our actions. In this context, it is often about understanding how humans relate to the environment, natural resources, climate change and the big picture. These are often complex and complicated relationships and demanding to learn about and understand. How can we learn more about ecosystems and the critical role of biodiversity? To claim that one is not interested or does not care is simply not good enough or acceptable. It is also unethical because it demonstrates a lack of concern for other people. The advocated approach is to have a positive attitude and commitment to accessing relevant information, to learn more and to use that knowledge to the best of our own ability to make informed decisions. Ignorance is being uninformed or unaware of how the world works and the relationship between us as human beings, the environment and the ecosystems that we rely on for our existence. It manifests in part as not being interested, not caring or being motivated enough to learn and understand. It means we do not apply the discernment, knowledge and wisdom that is available to us when we make decisions.
Ethics, Mindfulness and Meditation
Ethics is not only about accepting and being committed but more importantly, it is about acting. How do we put ethics into practice and apply it in our daily lives? The first way is obvious - by practising and demonstrating compassion and the core inner values and be an example to others. The second way is to actively promote Universal Ethics in our interactions with other human beings. Make use of opportunities to share and talk about them. Thirdly, we can talk about practical examples where Universal Ethics can help to solve problems and address challenges faced by individuals and current society.
One of the ways to develop our ability to promote and pursue these critical inner values - a set of Universal Ethics - is to train, develop and apply our minds through mindfulness exercises and practise meditation. Mindfulness is about applying a mental focus that helps us recall our core values and motivation. To develop your mindfulness is to acquire an effective mechanism to promote Universal Ethics. This is a proven way of cultivating compassion for ourselves and our fellow human beings. Meditation or mental cultivation practices help us to develop a clearer, more focused and calmer mind, which is of benefit to ourselves and others. It also helps us to become more aware of our behavioural patterns and do away with habits, thoughts and feelings that affect us negatively and result in negative behaviour. Mindfulness enhances our happiness and ability to show warm-heartedness to others.
Compassion is the foundation for other ethical values. It is also a very practical example of how we can contribute towards better lives for all of us, cause less harm to others and ensure a more sustainable environment and planet. We should refrain from causing harm but instead strive to actively cultivate positive behaviour, inner values and dedicate our lives to the welfare of others. We have a great responsibility as individuals and let’s do what we can to make a difference. Actions by individuals will collectively have a huge and decisive impact. Another important way to make a difference is to influence policy as well as political and business decision makers. The collective opinion of a large group of individuals or the public can force or put pressure on politicians and decision makers to take note and act.