3. Environmental Ethics

This chapter looks at the evolution of environmental ethics, tracing its development from the 1960s, when concerns over pollution first brought environmental issues into ethical discourse, to the emergence of comprehensive theoretical frameworks. Early environmental ethics sought to extend moral consideration beyond humans by employing various inclusion criteria, such as sentiency. However, these approaches often remained anthropocentric and faced significant criticism. In response, more expansive theories, such as deep ecology and ecofeminism, emerged, linking environmental concerns to broader political and social issues. These perspectives notably emphasized interdependence, ecological integrity, and the dismantling of hierarchical structures such as patriarchy that contribute to environmental degradation. The chapter further explores the concept of environmental justice through the lens of antibiotic resistance and the case of Yasuni National Park in Ecuador. These examples illustrate the complexity of achieving justice in environmental matters due to the vast scale of the issues and the intricate web of interrelations they entail. The discussion underscores the difficulty of defining fairness and responsibility when ecological, social, and economic dimensions intersect. By examining these cases, the chapter highlights the challenges of formulating ethical responses that account for both local and global environmental concerns.