Ethical Perspectives

In the field of environmental ethics we often talk about three main perspectives: anthropocentrism, biocentrism, and ecocentrism.  These perspectives often conflict with each other, however, we believe that all three of these perspectives would agree that our current energy use is unethical.  Even so, each perspective has different reasons to believe this is true.  

Anthropocentrism would argue that the nuclear and coal power plants used today have an associated health risk for those who live near them.  These methods of producing energy have several negative attributes worth noting.  Specifically, mining and nuclear waste are both hazardous to people in terms of direct physical harm as well as the direct physical harm of the environment in which these facitlities exist.  Not only are the people who are near the plants negatively affected, but the long-term effects of acid rain and global climate change hurt ecosystems that we depend on for our survival.  

Biocentrism would argue that our current energy use is unethical because it harms life around the globe. Outputs from coal plants cause toxic chemicals to accumulate in the bodies of plants and animals. Habitat destruction causes extinction and displacement of species. For example, hydropower has severely threatened the lives of salmon in the Pacific Northwest--species have become regionally extinct in many parts of their native range.

Ecocentrism would argue that the ecosystem loss caused by individual extinctions and global climate change is unethical.

A Sustainable Ethic

            Sustainable development was famously and vaguely defined by the Brundtland Commission as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, p. 43). Bruce Anderson, member of RENew Northfield, gives a very similar reason for using wind energy in Northfield:

The energy future for  Northfield and surrounding areas is in producing our own energy from local sources.  It will be a challenge to meet energy needs in sustainable ways, but in terms of long-term viability, renewable energy is truly the only path that makes sense for our world (Anderson).

            A sustainable ethic, then, is an ethic that considers not only the actions of an individual, but how those actions will influence future generations. Wind energy, we propose, is consistent with a sustainable ethic, for several reasons: This source is renewable and the production costs are minimal.  Wind, which is really an indirect source of solar energy, already exists without any human effort to produce it. 

    Wind energy is a field that is opening up beautifully on a small scale.  It is bringing people together by including local community members in the decision making process, addressing concerns of aesthetics, noise, bird mortality and offering people a local solution energy sources that are harmful to the environment and cost more in the long run. 

Ethics in Action

How might we create an energy system that aligns with our values?

There are several ways that we might take part in the decision to act ethically. Some are short term and some are long term. In the short term we can conserve energy by walking and biking more, leaving our computers off when we don’t need to use them and considering renewable energy souces our homes. In the long term, we are called to work for social change.

 Like us, RENew Northfield takes both short and long term actions:

RENew Northfield's mission is to lead the Northfield-area community to energy self-sufficiency

RENew Northfield's vision is an energy self-sufficient community that produces its own energy using a variety of methods that are environmentally friendly, of benefit to the local economy, and socially just. Conservation and responsible energy use are also central to this vision. We foresee Northfield becoming a model for other communities working toward energy self-sufficiency.

It is interesting how they profess both a mission and a vision – addressing both the practical goals in the short-term and vision for an ideal community using sustainable energy and providing a model for other places.

In this project, we were able to participate in a long term goal. Our time and energy was spent raising a wind monitoring tower that will help St. Olaf and the Northfield community work toward sustainability. 

Literature cited:

Anderson, Bruce. Personal Interview. 15 May 2004.

World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our common future. New York, NY:/Oxford University Press.