ESS Notes
Basis of Ecocentric Value Anthropocentric Value Technocentric Value
Comparison System System System
Ecocentric thinkers Technocentric
believe that nature Anthropocentric thinking perspectives view
has intrinsic value, places humans at the human innovation
meaning ecosystems, centre of and technological
species, and natural environmental advancement as the
processes are valuable decision-making. key to solving
Core
regardless of their Nature is valued environmental
philosophy
usefulness to humans. primarily for the problems. They
and worldview
Humans are resources and services believe environmental
considered one it provides to human limits can be overcome
component of a society, such as food, through scientific
larger ecological energy, and economic progress and
system, not superior benefits. technological
to it. development.
Humans are seen as Humans are considered Humans are viewed as
part of nature, and the most important capable managers of
human activities species, and natural nature through
should be limited so resources may be used technology.
View of
ecosystems can as long as they support Environmental
humans in
maintain their natural human welfare and problems are seen as
relation to
balance. Ecocentric development. challenges that can be
nature
approaches emphasise Environmental addressed through
harmony between management focuses on engineering solutions,
humans and natural balancing conservation innovation, and efficient
systems. with human needs. resource management.
Ecocentric
Technocentric
management Anthropocentric
management
prioritises ecosystem management supports
emphasises
protection and sustainable
technological
conservation, often development, where
interventions, such as
Approach to advocating strict limits environmental resources
renewable energy
environmental on resource are used responsibly to
systems, carbon
management exploitation. Policies support economic
capture technologies,
may include protected growth and human well-
genetically modified
areas, wilderness being while avoiding
crops, and advanced
preservation, and severe environmental
waste treatment
biodiversity degradation.
methods.
conservation.
Policies tend to focus on
Strategies often Strategies focus on
environmental
include nature innovation and
regulation, resource
Typical reserves, wildlife efficiency, including
management, and
environmental conservation renewable energy
sustainable economic
strategies programmes, technologies, smart
development, ensuring
supported restoration ecology, agriculture, advanced
environmental protection
and reduced recycling systems, and
while maintaining human
consumption to environmental
prosperity.
, Basis of Ecocentric Value Anthropocentric Value Technocentric Value
Comparison System System System
minimise human monitoring through
ecological footprints. satellite technology.
Technocentric
approaches strongly
Ecocentric
Anthropocentric views support economic
perspectives often
generally support growth driven by
question continuous
Attitude economic growth, technological
economic growth,
toward provided that progress, believing
arguing that unlimited
economic environmental impacts that improved efficiency
growth is incompatible
growth are managed through and innovation can
with the Earth’s finite
regulation and reduce environmental
resources and
sustainable practices. impacts while
ecological limits.
maintaining
development.
Policies such as Technocentric policies
Examples include the
environmental impact include large-scale
creation of protected
assessments, pollution renewable energy
ecosystems such as
regulations, and deployment, smart city
Yellowstone National
Examples of sustainable resource development, and
Park, strict wildlife
policies or management technological climate
conservation laws, and
practices programmes mitigation strategies
movements promoting
implemented by promoted by
minimal human
governments worldwide organisations such as
interference with
reflect anthropocentric the International
natural ecosystems.
thinking. Energy Agency.
, Terrestrial Food Production
Aspect Aquatic Food Production System
System
Bangladesh Aquaculture Industry
Named Case (especially shrimp and freshwater Punjab Green Revolution
Study fish farming in Khulna and coastal Agricultural System in India
delta regions)
Aquaculture involves controlled
Terrestrial food production involves
breeding and harvesting of
cultivation of crops and livestock
aquatic organisms such as fish,
on land. In Punjab, the Green
shrimp, and molluscs. In
System Revolution (1960s onwards)
Bangladesh, fish farming occurs in
Description introduced high-yielding varieties
ponds, rice paddies, and coastal
of wheat and rice, supported by
shrimp farms, producing large
irrigation, fertilizers, and
quantities of protein for domestic
mechanisation.
consumption and export.
Requires fish feed, controlled Requires land, irrigation water,
water quality, hatcheries, pond fertilizers, pesticides, seeds,
Inputs infrastructure, and sometimes tractors, and labour. The Punjab
Required antibiotics. Shrimp aquaculture in agricultural system is heavily
Bangladesh expanded rapidly after dependent on tube-well irrigation
the 1980s due to export demand. and chemical inputs.
Aquaculture systems can produce Punjab became the “breadbasket
high protein output per unit area, of India”, producing a significant
often higher than livestock farming. share of the country’s wheat and
Productivity
Bangladesh is now among the rice. The Green Revolution
and Yield
largest fish producers globally, dramatically increased yields,
with fish contributing over 60% of helping India achieve food self-
national animal protein intake. sufficiency in the 1970s.
Intensive shrimp aquaculture has led Intensive agriculture has caused
to salinisation of agricultural soils, groundwater depletion, soil
Environmental mangrove destruction, and water degradation, fertilizer runoff, and
Impacts pollution from feed waste and biodiversity loss. Over-irrigation
chemicals. Coastal ecosystems have has lowered groundwater tables in
been degraded in some regions. Punjab dramatically.
Aquaculture can produce large
Terrestrial systems provide large-
quantities of protein using
scale staple food production and
relatively small areas of land,
support national food security. The
Advantages which is important in densely
Green Revolution significantly
populated countries like Bangladesh.
reduced famine risk and
It also provides livelihoods for
improved rural incomes initially.
millions of rural households.
Aquaculture may cause water
pollution, disease outbreaks in The Punjab agricultural system is
fish populations, and habitat environmentally unsustainable in
Limitations destruction. Shrimp farming has the long term, due to declining soil
sometimes displaced local farmers fertility, water scarcity, and overuse
due to export-driven economic of agrochemicals.
pressures.
, Why Suitable
for This
Energy Named
Location Environmenta
Resource Case Study Strengths Limitations
(Geographica l Impact
Type & Location
l / Physical
Factors)
Rajasthan
Solar energy
receives very
produces very
high solar Provides Energy
low
insolation large-scale production is
greenhouse
(over 300 clean and intermittent,
gas
sunny days renewable depending on
emissions
per year) and electricity, sunlight
during
Bhadla has vast reduces availability.
operation.
Solar Energy Solar Park, desert land dependence Storage
However, large
(Renewable) Rajasthan, with low on fossil systems or
solar parks
India agricultural fuels, and backup power
require
value. These supports sources are
significant land
conditions India’s required to
area and may
make it ideal renewable ensure stable
affect desert
for large-scale energy electricity
ecosystems
solar targets. supply.
and
photovoltaic
biodiversity.
installations.
Denmark’s Wind energy
Wind power
coastal produces
has become Wind energy is
geography almost no air
a major variable and
and proximity pollution or
contributor weather-
to the North greenhouse
to dependent,
Sea provide gases.
Denmark’s which can
Offshore strong and However,
Wind Energy electricity cause
wind farms consistent turbines may
(Renewable) supply, fluctuations in
in Denmark wind speeds, affect bird
reducing electricity
which increase migration
reliance on production and
turbine routes and
fossil fuels requires grid
efficiency and marine
and lowering management
electricity ecosystems
carbon solutions.
generation during offshore
emissions.
potential. construction.
Hydroelectric
The Yangtze
dams can Generates
River has high
cause habitat massive
water flow Construction
loss, amounts of
and costs are
disruption of renewable
Hydroelectri Three significant extremely high,
aquatic electricity
c Power Gorges elevation and ecological
ecosystems, and reduces
(Renewable) Dam, China changes, and social
sedimentation reliance on
making it impacts can be
issues, and coal-based
suitable for severe.
displacement energy
large-scale
of human sources.
hydroelectric
communities
Basis of Ecocentric Value Anthropocentric Value Technocentric Value
Comparison System System System
Ecocentric thinkers Technocentric
believe that nature Anthropocentric thinking perspectives view
has intrinsic value, places humans at the human innovation
meaning ecosystems, centre of and technological
species, and natural environmental advancement as the
processes are valuable decision-making. key to solving
Core
regardless of their Nature is valued environmental
philosophy
usefulness to humans. primarily for the problems. They
and worldview
Humans are resources and services believe environmental
considered one it provides to human limits can be overcome
component of a society, such as food, through scientific
larger ecological energy, and economic progress and
system, not superior benefits. technological
to it. development.
Humans are seen as Humans are considered Humans are viewed as
part of nature, and the most important capable managers of
human activities species, and natural nature through
should be limited so resources may be used technology.
View of
ecosystems can as long as they support Environmental
humans in
maintain their natural human welfare and problems are seen as
relation to
balance. Ecocentric development. challenges that can be
nature
approaches emphasise Environmental addressed through
harmony between management focuses on engineering solutions,
humans and natural balancing conservation innovation, and efficient
systems. with human needs. resource management.
Ecocentric
Technocentric
management Anthropocentric
management
prioritises ecosystem management supports
emphasises
protection and sustainable
technological
conservation, often development, where
interventions, such as
Approach to advocating strict limits environmental resources
renewable energy
environmental on resource are used responsibly to
systems, carbon
management exploitation. Policies support economic
capture technologies,
may include protected growth and human well-
genetically modified
areas, wilderness being while avoiding
crops, and advanced
preservation, and severe environmental
waste treatment
biodiversity degradation.
methods.
conservation.
Policies tend to focus on
Strategies often Strategies focus on
environmental
include nature innovation and
regulation, resource
Typical reserves, wildlife efficiency, including
management, and
environmental conservation renewable energy
sustainable economic
strategies programmes, technologies, smart
development, ensuring
supported restoration ecology, agriculture, advanced
environmental protection
and reduced recycling systems, and
while maintaining human
consumption to environmental
prosperity.
, Basis of Ecocentric Value Anthropocentric Value Technocentric Value
Comparison System System System
minimise human monitoring through
ecological footprints. satellite technology.
Technocentric
approaches strongly
Ecocentric
Anthropocentric views support economic
perspectives often
generally support growth driven by
question continuous
Attitude economic growth, technological
economic growth,
toward provided that progress, believing
arguing that unlimited
economic environmental impacts that improved efficiency
growth is incompatible
growth are managed through and innovation can
with the Earth’s finite
regulation and reduce environmental
resources and
sustainable practices. impacts while
ecological limits.
maintaining
development.
Policies such as Technocentric policies
Examples include the
environmental impact include large-scale
creation of protected
assessments, pollution renewable energy
ecosystems such as
regulations, and deployment, smart city
Yellowstone National
Examples of sustainable resource development, and
Park, strict wildlife
policies or management technological climate
conservation laws, and
practices programmes mitigation strategies
movements promoting
implemented by promoted by
minimal human
governments worldwide organisations such as
interference with
reflect anthropocentric the International
natural ecosystems.
thinking. Energy Agency.
, Terrestrial Food Production
Aspect Aquatic Food Production System
System
Bangladesh Aquaculture Industry
Named Case (especially shrimp and freshwater Punjab Green Revolution
Study fish farming in Khulna and coastal Agricultural System in India
delta regions)
Aquaculture involves controlled
Terrestrial food production involves
breeding and harvesting of
cultivation of crops and livestock
aquatic organisms such as fish,
on land. In Punjab, the Green
shrimp, and molluscs. In
System Revolution (1960s onwards)
Bangladesh, fish farming occurs in
Description introduced high-yielding varieties
ponds, rice paddies, and coastal
of wheat and rice, supported by
shrimp farms, producing large
irrigation, fertilizers, and
quantities of protein for domestic
mechanisation.
consumption and export.
Requires fish feed, controlled Requires land, irrigation water,
water quality, hatcheries, pond fertilizers, pesticides, seeds,
Inputs infrastructure, and sometimes tractors, and labour. The Punjab
Required antibiotics. Shrimp aquaculture in agricultural system is heavily
Bangladesh expanded rapidly after dependent on tube-well irrigation
the 1980s due to export demand. and chemical inputs.
Aquaculture systems can produce Punjab became the “breadbasket
high protein output per unit area, of India”, producing a significant
often higher than livestock farming. share of the country’s wheat and
Productivity
Bangladesh is now among the rice. The Green Revolution
and Yield
largest fish producers globally, dramatically increased yields,
with fish contributing over 60% of helping India achieve food self-
national animal protein intake. sufficiency in the 1970s.
Intensive shrimp aquaculture has led Intensive agriculture has caused
to salinisation of agricultural soils, groundwater depletion, soil
Environmental mangrove destruction, and water degradation, fertilizer runoff, and
Impacts pollution from feed waste and biodiversity loss. Over-irrigation
chemicals. Coastal ecosystems have has lowered groundwater tables in
been degraded in some regions. Punjab dramatically.
Aquaculture can produce large
Terrestrial systems provide large-
quantities of protein using
scale staple food production and
relatively small areas of land,
support national food security. The
Advantages which is important in densely
Green Revolution significantly
populated countries like Bangladesh.
reduced famine risk and
It also provides livelihoods for
improved rural incomes initially.
millions of rural households.
Aquaculture may cause water
pollution, disease outbreaks in The Punjab agricultural system is
fish populations, and habitat environmentally unsustainable in
Limitations destruction. Shrimp farming has the long term, due to declining soil
sometimes displaced local farmers fertility, water scarcity, and overuse
due to export-driven economic of agrochemicals.
pressures.
, Why Suitable
for This
Energy Named
Location Environmenta
Resource Case Study Strengths Limitations
(Geographica l Impact
Type & Location
l / Physical
Factors)
Rajasthan
Solar energy
receives very
produces very
high solar Provides Energy
low
insolation large-scale production is
greenhouse
(over 300 clean and intermittent,
gas
sunny days renewable depending on
emissions
per year) and electricity, sunlight
during
Bhadla has vast reduces availability.
operation.
Solar Energy Solar Park, desert land dependence Storage
However, large
(Renewable) Rajasthan, with low on fossil systems or
solar parks
India agricultural fuels, and backup power
require
value. These supports sources are
significant land
conditions India’s required to
area and may
make it ideal renewable ensure stable
affect desert
for large-scale energy electricity
ecosystems
solar targets. supply.
and
photovoltaic
biodiversity.
installations.
Denmark’s Wind energy
Wind power
coastal produces
has become Wind energy is
geography almost no air
a major variable and
and proximity pollution or
contributor weather-
to the North greenhouse
to dependent,
Sea provide gases.
Denmark’s which can
Offshore strong and However,
Wind Energy electricity cause
wind farms consistent turbines may
(Renewable) supply, fluctuations in
in Denmark wind speeds, affect bird
reducing electricity
which increase migration
reliance on production and
turbine routes and
fossil fuels requires grid
efficiency and marine
and lowering management
electricity ecosystems
carbon solutions.
generation during offshore
emissions.
potential. construction.
Hydroelectric
The Yangtze
dams can Generates
River has high
cause habitat massive
water flow Construction
loss, amounts of
and costs are
disruption of renewable
Hydroelectri Three significant extremely high,
aquatic electricity
c Power Gorges elevation and ecological
ecosystems, and reduces
(Renewable) Dam, China changes, and social
sedimentation reliance on
making it impacts can be
issues, and coal-based
suitable for severe.
displacement energy
large-scale
of human sources.
hydroelectric
communities
