Environmentalism
Environmentalism is not just a movement, it’s a wake-up call—a response to the increasingly strained relationship between man and nature.
❝ We did not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrowed it from our children. ❞
That’s the spirit of environmentalism.
🔍 Core Idea:
How have human actions affected the environment?
And what should we do about it?
Environmentalism focuses on:
- Consequences of over-exploitation of nature
- Efforts to restore ecological balance
- Building an ethic of care for the Earth
🧭 Historical Evolution of Environmentalism:
🕊️ Early Human Civilizations:
- Lived in harmony with nature.
- Practices were sustainable, because they feared nature and depended on it.
⚙️ Industrial Revolution (18th–19th Century):
- Exploitative mindset developed.
- Nature became a commodity.
- Led to → Pollution, Deforestation, Biodiversity loss, Climate change
⚠️ Post-Industrial Realization (20th Century):
- Environmental crises became visible:
- Bhopal Gas Tragedy
- Chernobyl Disaster
- Oil Spills
- Gave birth to organized environmental movements.
🧠 Perspectives in Environmentalism:
| Perspective | Description | Key Features | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Anthropocentric (Shallow Ecology) | Human-centered | Nature is important only as a resource for human welfare | Sustainable development, UNFCCC, carbon trading |
| 2. Ecocentric (Deep Ecology) | Nature-centered | Nature has intrinsic value, independent of human use | Chipko Movement, social forestry, eco-feminism |
🌿 Key Analogy:
Anthropocentric = “We protect trees because they give oxygen.”
Ecocentric = “We protect trees because they have a right to exist.”
📜 Major Events in the Global Environmental Movement:
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Limits to Growth (Club of Rome) | Warned of ecological and economic collapse due to overuse of resources |
| 1987 | Brundtland Report | Coined sustainable development |
| 1992 | Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro | Gave rise to CBD, UNFCCC, Agenda 21 |
| 1997 | Kyoto Protocol | First binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gases |
| 2015 | Paris Climate Agreement | Common but differentiated responsibilities agreed upon |
More insights about these you will get in Environment subject. Enrich your answers taking concepts from there.
🛑 Why Environmentalism Hasn’t Fully Succeeded:
Despite awareness, implementation has lagged due to:
- North-South divide:
Developed countries blame developing ones for emissions, while developing countries argue that historical polluters must bear more responsibility. - Economic interests trump ecological concerns.
- Lack of enforcement of international treaties.
- Weak environmental governance and public participation.
📚 Indian Context – Movements and Milestones:
| Movement | Focus | Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Chipko Movement (1973) | Forest conservation | Emphasized community participation and ecocentric values |
| Silent Valley Movement | Protecting biodiversity in Kerala | Successfully stopped a hydropower project |
| Narmada Bachao Andolan | Against big dams | Focus on displacement and environmental degradation |
🧩 The Core Dilemma: Development vs Environment
Environmentalism often clashes with the pursuit of economic growth. This is where Geography steps in with the idea of sustainable development—to create a balance:
Sustainability = Development today without compromising tomorrow’s needs.
It is a practical compromise between anthropocentrism and ecocentrism.
✅ Conclusion: Environmentalism in Geography
Environmentalism has redefined geography from being a study of earth’s surface to a study of responsible living on Earth.
Today’s geography is:
- Not just about describing nature, but defending it.
- Not just about mapping resources, but managing responsibilities.