ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 66

the Ecocentrics , there is division between those on the right ; ‘ Deep Ecologists ’, who put a greater emphasis on the limits to growth or carrying capacity of the earth , and those on the left , ‘ Moderate Ecologists ’, who believe in decentralised political and social institutions . Deep Ecologists believe in compulsory restraints on human population growth and on resource consumption .
Economically , Anthropocentrics are neo-classicists , believing economic growth is possible , and rejecting intervention to tax or incentivise sustainability measures , the market is king . This stance is beginning to change and evolve in capitalist economies with an increase in the scope of environmental legislation . For example , in 2010 the disclosure of energy consumption in commercial buildings in Australia became mandatory ( Warren & Huston , 2011 ) and in the UK similar legislation , Energy Performance Certificates ( EPCs ), was mandated in 2007 ( DirectGov , 2012 ). There is also mounting evidence that mandatory approaches to sustainability in the built environment are more effective that voluntary approaches ( Wilkinson et al , 2015 , Wilkinson , 2014 ). The carbon pricing mechanism , or Carbon Tax was contentious legislation in Australia , which commenced in July 2012 , and met significant resistance in the parliament during 2011 . There was concern about the potential impact on the economy and the amount of the carbon price compared to other countries ; it was rescinded after the 2013 election when a neo-liberal party displaced a labour administration . The Australian government had largely offset the potential negative political and economic impacts of the pricing mechanism with generous government assistance to households . It was a temporary shift in the neo-classical economic philosophy to Accommodating Environmentalism , which has returned to a Cornucopian position . Another concern is that within the built environment , improved economic performance through a perceived increase in capital value is the main argument used to persuade owners and investors to adopt sustainability ( Eichholtz et al 2009 , Fuerst & McAllister 2011 , Newell 2008 ). Thus a spectrum of ideas and values exist within the concept of sustainability which goes from dark green to light green , or as some have suggested to grey ; implying that the pursuit of weak sustainability does not deliver sustainable outcomes ( Cooper 1994 , Washington 2015 ). The range of views identified in the literature is shown in Table 1 below . Five groups were identified , two being classed as Anthropocentric ( Accommodating and Cornucopian Environmentalism ) and three as Ecocentric ( Transpersonal , Deep and Moderate Ecology ).
In Table 1 the most radical group , ‘ Transpersonal Ecologists ’ are so embroiled in ecosophical debate they are unable to form a coherent group who are capable of action ( Dobson , 1990 ). The ‘ Deep Ecologists ’ and ‘ Moderate Ecologists ’ share some beliefs , such as , both groups believe capitalism is unsustainable , but also have distinct and separate positions on issues . ‘ Deep Ecologists ’ believe in bio-ethics and the intrinsic value of nature , where ‘ Moderate Ecologists ’ believe in the primary value of ecosystems ; which is a less extreme view . A similar situation exists for Anthropocentrics . The two Anthropocentric groups share views on the value of science and rational thought . They diverge on the ‘ rights of humans ’, which are dominant in the ‘ Cornucopian Environmentalists ’ group , ‘ Accommodating Environmentalists ’ however , hold there is instrumental value in nature . These beliefs are shown figuratively in figure 1 as the spectrum of sustainability .
64 ZEMCH 2015 | International Conference | Bari - Lecce , Italy