Coming to Lewis & Clark, I knew I wanted to further my knowledge about environmentalism and engage in scholarly conversation. Upon enrolling in Introduction to Environmental Studies (ENVS-160), the first course for the environmental studies major, I was introduced to the developing world of the environmental sphere and its surrounding literature and frameworks. ENVS-160 is a course designated to give prospective environmental studies majors a peek on the environmental theory and the surrounding problems it encompasses. Reading text ranging from Mike Hulme’s Why We Disagree About Climate Change to Paul Steinberg’s Who Rules the Earth?: How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives, further allows you to engage in traversing dialogue on how we move forward and take in our ideas to make action.
Why We Disagree About Climate Change
Starting the course off by reading Why We Disagree About Climate Change, we explored the issue of climate change and why it is constantly questioned and debated. Introducing different perspectives, Hulme explores the different factors that come into play when individuals decide on climate changes factors. Hulme introduces cultural grid-group theory, a fundamental ideology that is used to assess risk assessment amongst individuals. Divided into four categories, each category evaluates how risks are understood and actions are drawn in relation to the individual and society (read more on cultural grid-group theory).
Amongst introducing theories and ideologies, Hulme brings to light several initiatives that have taken place to promote and discuss environmental issues such as The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Copenhagen Consensus. This really allows for readers to understand that the issues surrounding climate change are being worked on and are constantly in development. The IPCC is under the United Nations as a body of governance that allows member governments to come together to discuss the political, social, and economical impacts of climate. While the Copenhagen Consensus serves as a project that has been established as a non-profit by the Copenhagen Consensus Center to engage in possible solutions to problems, by inviting specialists in the field of science, economics, and politics.
Tying in these learned ideologies, we participated in conducting a survey in the Greater Portland area that allowed us to see where Portlanders stood on their beliefs and understanding of climate change (read more). By going out into the real world and getting the public’s opinion, we were able to bridge what we learned in the classroom and what is in the real world, delivering a very enriching experience.
All in all, Why We Disagree About Climate Change, aims to educate an audience on the surrounding factors that climate change impacts and the complexities surrounding climate change that make it difficult for progression to move forth.
Making the Modern World
Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization by Vaclav Smil, aims to bring perspective on how the constant association of materialization is held accountable for environmental impacts. Narrowing in on numbers and allowing the reader to become familiar of global perspectives, Smil looks into materials such as concrete, steel, and more. By learning about the process of materials and how they are seen from a global scale allows for the reader to really become aware of the processes that are in place in when creating materials and how they later unravelled in the atmosphere (Smil 2014).
Noticing how global countries aim to dematerialized and change the production means of the products they offer comes across an increase in consumption, introducing Jevons Paradox. Often referenced in environmental studies, jevons paradox originates from economics when increasing “the efficiency” with which a resource is used tends to increase (rather than decrease) the rate of consumption of that resource.
By tracking the story of things, we become conscious that while materials always seem bad we must take into perspective they’re production location, contribution, and economic advantages. “Situating Minerals” is often a term used to change the perspective and understand that mineral and production when accounted for also needs to measure in the location and positive outcomes it can have for those that need or produce it.
Classic and Contemporary Environmental Thought
Classic and contemporary environmental thought has allowed for the emergence of many different environmental ideologies and theories. By learning about different viewpoints or isms, you can view environmental issues and ideas through different lens that can bring you to understand them better.
Through Classic Environmental thought, I learned about the emergence of Hardin’s Tragedy of the Commons, the most cited environmental publication that address the how are demand for resources has a tied connection to what we do that is in our best interest. By exploring this logic, we become aware of our role in the biosphere and how both coexist and depend on each other.
Contemporary environmental thought narrows in on the progressive development of how the environmental sphere looks for solutions. Focusing on movements such as ecomodernism and post naturalism, contemporary thought is open to a more diverse implementation of different scholarly critiques.
While the field of classic and contemporary thought is huge, they are each carry different ‘isms’ that are responsible for representing different lens and perspectives. Isms can help deliver description, evaluation, or promote a movement. In ENVS-160, I explored the contemporary ism of ecological modernization and how it compasses liberal and progressive ideologies to moving forward with ecological solutions.
Who Rules the Earth
Wrapping up the course, Paul Steinberg’s Who Rules the Earth, promotes the significance of social rules and implementing institutional action. By bringing spotlight to the importance of governance in making environmental policy and change, Steinberg highlights how big forces can promote change more effectively compared to individual based action. Challenging the way we think and act serves as a pinnacle point to becoming more aware and conceptualizing the problems of society differently. With this, Steinberg promotes the framework of ‘thinking vertically’— thinking and acting at multiple levels that can allow for social and political change to really cause an impact.
Making it clear that institutional change is the direction that society should aim for when wanting change, Steinberg gives his readers hopeful principles that they can follow to make change.
Check out these blog posts where I reflect and synthesis on my experience in ENVS-160 and the texts that were read:
- A Growing Web of Knowledge, lessons learned related to environmental studies
- Bridging Together the Connections, key connections through the course readings
- Changing Mantras to Solidify Change, expanding on the argument underlying Who Rules the Earth
- Aiming for Conscious Awareness Beyond 160, practicing what was learned in ENVS-160
Concluding
While reading texts and exploring different subjects in the course can seem like a lot, they all come together full circle to help develop frameworks that help you navigate through the field of environmental studies with more understanding and consideration. As you get ready to embark your journey of ENVS-160, I advise you to take it one step at a time and be open to changing ideas. It will challenge you best if you push yourself to places and thoughts that you wouldn’t think before.
References
Hardin, Garrett. “The Tragedy of the Commons.” Science 162, no. 3859 (1968): 1243-248.
Hulme, Mike. 2015. Why we disagree about climate change: understanding controversy, inaction and opportunity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Smil, Vaclav. Making the Modern World : Materials and Dematerialization. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley, 2014.
Steinberg, Paul F. 2015. Who Rules the Earth?: How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.