Environmental Management: Principles and practice

A late-twentieth-century paradigm shift?
Different social groups and individuals vary in outlook, and often alter their views as
time passes. This has been the case over the last few decades to such an extent that
many recognize an ongoing paradigm shift, whereby a wide diversity of political
groups, religious persuasions, old and young, share concern for the environment to
a greater extent than has been the case in western nations in the past. There was some
environmental concern around the turn of the century, but this was limited to
individuals, and mainly directed toward conservation of wildlife and natural treasures;
since the 1960s public attention has focused on environmental problems and human
survival. What were desirable goals in the past are being questioned; the way forward
is far from clear and the environmental manager is charged with finding the best
path. Social science must clarify issues for environmental management: warn of
changing attitudes, advise on human institutions that will work for ecologically sound
development, and help identify policies that will work.
It seems unlikely that development, as practised so far, will enable the world’s
poor to reach standards of living achieved in rich countries. It may also be difficult
to maintain the quality of life in rich countries. Changed attitudes and new approaches
are needed, and humankind probably has limited time to acquire them. Social science
will play a vital part in managing the stresses societies will probably undergo in the
coming decades.
Many organisms alter the environment: the changes they bring about may
be slow or rapid, localized or global. Humans are unique in that they have the
potential to recognize and to make a conscious response to opportunities and to
threats—natural or anthropogenic—perhaps to avoid or mitigate them, for
example through technology. Recognition of problems and reaction to them
depends on what individuals and communities think of themselves and how they
relate to their environment. At the roots of many of the world’s environmental
problems lie unsound concepts of development and modernization. A widespread
problem is that people tend to make Faustian bargains—decisions which sacrifice
long-term well-being for short-term gains. Another is that people can react in an
emotive way to questions which require careful investigation. Environmental
managers weed out unreliable advocacy and ensure that rational enquiry is not
discouraged.

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ENVIRONMENTALISM AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
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