Question

Explain the significance of environmental values and ethics.

Answer 1

1. Human behaviour is guided and controlled by a value system, which means a set of values. Values are beliefs that guide the judgement and action of a person.
2. These represent the basic convictions about what is the right behaviour. Society judges an individual's actions by the values it cherishes. Honesty, truth, and courtesy are basic values in a society. Values are standards of morality specifying what is right or wrong, good or bad, fair or unfair.
3. The term 'ethics' has been derived from the Greek word ethos, which means character. Ethics is concerned with the principles of right conduct.
4. Values and ethics are closely related to each other. Ethics is the entire body of moral values and values are the language of ethics.
5. Environmental values refer to the moral standards that people are expected to follow while interacting with nature and its resources.
6. A factory owner is expected not to release untreated factory waste or effluents into local water bodies. Self-interest may create an ethical dilemma.
7. Environmental values can be inculcated in the public through education and awareness. Along with moral values, the significance of natural resources and the need for their conservation should be taught in schools and colleges.
8. Environmental education is, therefore, very crucial. Environmental education needs to be integrated in the school education system to create sensitivity to the environment.
9. Environmental values make people environmentally conscious. Teaching environmental values encourages people to carry cloth bags, use organic manure, keep surroundings clean, respect other people's things, refuse the use of polybags, styrofoam containers, etc., reuse plastic and glass containers, recycle paper to save trees, and plant more trees.
10. The Indian Constitution states that every citizen has the right to a clean and wholesome environment and to safe and clean air and water.
11. Most of the schools celebrate June 5 as "Environment Day". On this day, certain enlightened people and environmentalists should be invited to speak on ecological ethics, that is, our duty towards air, water, rivers, plants, animals, etc.