Mains Daily Question
Nov. 15, 2023

Q2. What ethical principles should guide public policy decisions on environmental issues, and how can these principles be incorporated into the decision-making process to ensure sustainable and equitable outcomes?(10M, 150W)

Model Answer

Approach to the answer:

The question comes in the context of rising debates w.r.t. environmental degradation and the importance of environmental ethics in public policymaking. Here, we need to highlight the ethical principles needed to address environmental issues.

Introduction

We can introduce the answer by defining environmental ethics or by stating an example/real incident highlighting the need of environmental ethics in public policymaking.  

Body

Since the directives are What and How, thus, there would be two major headings. The first shall state the ethical principles to guide public policy decisions on environmental issues whereas the second shall state how these principles could be incorporated in policy decision-making.  

Conclusion  

Here we can conclude either by summarizing the arguments of the body section or by stating why environmental ethics must be promoted in modern-day governance.  

 

Answer: Environmental ethics deals with the ethical problems surrounding environmental protection like deforestation, climate change, ocean acidification etc. It aims to provide ethical justification and moral motivation for the cause of global environmental protection.  

Ethical Principles to guide Public Policy Decision on Environmental Issues

  • Prevention of Harm: While making policy decisions, always try and avoid harm to the environment and wildlife. 
    • For instance, the banning of DDT in India worked to protect bird populations.
  • Precautionary Approach: The precautionary principle requires that, if there is a strong suspicion that a certain activity may have environmentally harmful consequences, it is better to control that activity now rather than to wait for incontrovertible scientific evidence. 
    • For example, This principle was evident when projects near the Western Ghats were halted due to potential ecological damage.
  • Sustainable Development: It is an approach to economic planning that attempts to foster economic growth while preserving the quality of the environment for future generations. 
    • For example, India's promotion of solar energy to balance growth with environmental protection is a perfect example.
  • Equity and Justice: Equity is achieving fairness and balance in access to environmental resources, whereas justice states that everyone should have a say in how the environment is managed and protects their communities.
    • For example, The recognition of tribal rights in forest conservation through the Forest Rights Act in India is a testament to this.
  • Solidarity: Solidarity promotes the common goal-oriented effort by individuals who are conscious of their common interests and shared environmental responsibility. 
    • For example, The Chipko movement in India, where villagers united to prevent deforestation and save Himalayan trees, demonstrates this effectively.
  • Scientific Knowledge and Integrity in Decision-making: Respecting scientific information for decision-making and following it without compromise is crucial. 
    • For example, This can be seen in decisions like preserving mangroves based on studies that highlight their importance in coastal protection.

These principles could be incorporated into decision making by adopting following measures:

    • Identifying Stakeholders: Citizens, regions and sectors of economy which are most likely to be impacted by environmental degradation must be shortlisted and accordingly environmentally friendly policies must be formulated.

 

  • Capacity Building: To consider environmental ethics into policy making, skills are needed. These skills could be inducted by conducting proper training and adopting capacity building measures. 
  • Promoting Citizen’s Participation: Any governmental policy would not reap result without citizen’s participation. Thus, citizen participation in terms of policy input, implementation and feedback must be promoted.
  • Focusing on Environment Centric Laws: The overall government policy must be environment centric.
  • For instance, while manufacturing a car, the focus must be on promoting electric vehicles instead of conventional vehicles.

 

Case Study

Most of the Nordic nations are excelling in their initiatives to achieve a green future and switching towards eco-friendly technologies to curb their greenhouse gases emissions and take climate actions.

For example, Finland

  • Finland is one of the greenest countries of the world. With its eco-friendly practices and dedication to sustainable development, Finland is at the forefront to tackle climate crisis and contribute to environmental and economic well-being successfully. 
  • With its excellent air quality and deliberate effort to transition to renewable sources of energy, the country has gained success in its step towards sustainability.

Additional Information

Broad Principles vis-a-vis Environmental Ethics

    • Non-Anthropocentrism: It is essentially a reversal of anthropocentrism i.e., stating that the non-human world has value independent of its benefit to humanity. 
    • Psycho-centrism: It is the idea which states that living beings which have some mental capacities are valuable.
    • Intrinsic value: The value which things hold in themselves rather than for the purpose of something else. For example, human life is intrinsically valuable.
    • Aesthetic value: It is the value for physical appearance or beauty.
    • Moral considerability: It means the interaction between the beings are bound by moral values.
    • Biocentrism: It is the principle that ensures the proper balance of ecology on the planet.
    • Holism: It moots the idea of whole environment systems against individual being.
    • Resourcism: It states that nature is valued because it provides the environment with resources.
    • Animal welfare: It is to ensure that animals are treated well in the environment.
  • Animal liberation: It ensures the safeguard of animal lives and their welfare.

 

Environmental ethics induces ecological consciousness in decision-making. It provides moral grounds for social policies aimed at protecting the earth’s environment and remedying environmental degradation. Thus, it must be promoted in modern-day governance.

Subjects : Ethics
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