Living More Humanely and Sustainably: A Framework to Embracing Environmental Ethics as a Driver to Stable, Just and Self- Sustaining Societies and Economies of the World

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly more apparent that today’s societies and economies are faced with multiple, interconnected challenges, such as climate change and significant ecosystem degradation; but it also has the unique opportunity to design and create a sustainable living for posterity. These challenges that necessitate the development of capable, responsible and effective ethical environmental frameworks are crucial to forming and implementing humane and sustainable societies and economies. There has been an explosion of concern in world economies and societies about the destruction of the environment leading to inhumane and unsustainable living. In response to these concerns, a range of environmental ethical philosophies that foster sustainable development have been developed by environmentalists, ethicists and philosophers. The philosophy of sustainable development offers new moral and ethical ideals for environmental concerns and has been widely adopted globally by many societies, leaders and economies. While many projects are guided by the principles of sustainable development, an environmental ethic has not fully been engendered in the process. Despite widespread environmental concerns, many global societies and economies, in general, focus on the domination of nature through science, technology, engineering, innovation and leadership, and ignore surrounding natural ecosystems. In this regard, it is urgently required that an environmental ethical theory which can be inculcated as a driver to the global societies and economies’ behaviour be embraced. From the theoretical analysis of different views and debates of scholars and researchers on sustainability and environmental stability, this paper therefore recommends that there is a need for societies and economies to adopt ethical duties and virtues of a ‘green’ and sustainable society with an emphasis on positive environmental ends. This is because if societies and economies are to reduce their impact on the environment and preserve it for future generations, it is imperative that their actions are challenged and that they adopt new ways of revamping and protecting the environment to create a humane and a self sustaining world.

Keywords: Humane living, self-sustaining societies and economies, environmental ethics, Sustainable development