Chapter 2.
The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.1. Population, Economic Growth, and Resource Use
(Environmental Ethics and Economics approach)
2.2. The SDGs Economic Factors of Sustainable Development
(SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 10, SDG 12)
2.3. Case study
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.1. Population, Economic Growth, and Resource Use
• From the beginning of the evolutionary story, humans took their first steps, groping on the earth's crust in a
position of dependence on nature.
• Early labor activities (hunting and gathering) and then the Agricultural Civilization, which focused on land
reclamation, linked humans to natural elements such as soil, water sources, and climate.
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.1. Population, Economic Growth, and Resource Use
• Humans made great strides with the Industrial Revolution, "The First Copernican
Revolution" (Erle Ellis, 2018, p. 6) took place as humans expanded their horizons
further about the universe, shaping a dominant position with intelligence and
exploiting nature.
• A redefinition of human position and role has been made. Humans have played a
central role in the story of the Earth.
• Humans become shapers instead of being controlled by nature.
• “Human habitants” as opposed to “Non-human habitants” => It inevitably
happens when there is increasingly no more room for the second factor.
Source: Erle Ellis, 2018, p. 8
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.1. Population, Economic Growth, and Resource Use
➢ Wrong tendency to think and act => Anthropocentrism
➢ The central position and role in the story of the earth is affirmed from the perspective of human
values:
• What is considered necessary and unnecessary, essential or secondary, is shaped through the
perspective of human needs and values;
• The properties and characteristics of things other than humans are only analyzed and evaluated based on
what they bring and satisfy human survival needs.
Source: Bryan Norton, 2003, p. 164
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.1. Population, Economic Growth, and Resource Use
• Felt preferences is an approach that emphasizes immediate and rapid satisfaction of individual
needs. This is how the behavior of exploiting and using nature is formed. The purpose is only to
satisfy individuality (i.e., interaction space) and immediacy (interaction time). The natural world is
no different than a place that provides people with things they consider valuable and practical.
• Considered preferences are priorities based on careful consideration and research with a
scientific worldview and an ethical and aesthetic basis for behavior.
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.1. Population, Economic Growth, and Resource Use
“The characteristics and activities of any organism are always understood in light of the
organism’s relations to it environments. The human capacities of thinking and knowing are no
exception. Consciousness, reason, imagination, language and sign use (mind, in short) are
seen as natural adaptions the help the human organism to get along in the world”
(Kelly Parker, 1996, p.23)
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.1. Population, Economic Growth, and Resource Use
Strong Anthropocentrism Weak Anthropocentrism
• This originates from " Felt preferences" in which • Based on consideration and criticism of the value system
personal satisfaction is the sole purpose and in each action of exploiting the natural world.
motivation for expanding the individual's interactive • “Considered preferences” will be evaluated and
space into nature. considered in harmonious interaction with the
• The result of this trend does not require evaluation, environment.
explanation, and criticism because it is not based on • Humans will no longer exploit and regulate the functions
any worldview or metaphysics. and values of the natural world.
• The value system of “Strong Anthropocentrism” is • The natural world will act as a teacher, guiding human
gauged by human satisfaction and the extent of behavior, and as an observer, evaluating the level of
preference given to transient existence, highlighting balance in human behavior.
the urgency of considering the long-term
implications.
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.1. Population, Economic Growth, and Resource Use
➢ The direction “weak anthropocentrism” will provide two sources of ethics that we can apply to perception and
action:
• First, it forces people to realize the long-forgotten truth that humans are just one of countless species of living
things linked together in the biosphere. The vitality and harmony between humans and the biosphere are the
sole priority in establishing a value system for exploiting nature.
• Second, this foundation reaffirms and strengthens the rationality of human action. Humans must know how to
reflect themselves in a diverse frame of reference as rational beings. There, people themselves will be
analyzed, criticized, and warned. The human value system will be shaped through interactions with nature
rather than an arrogant and immutable statement.
Total world population (billion)
2022
Nigeria
218.541.212
Brazil
215.313.498
Indonesia
277.501.339
China
1.41 tỷ
India
1.42 tỷ
2007
World population in urban and rural areas
(billion people)
Vietnam’s population
(million people)
3 methods to evaluate GDP
GDP
nominal
3 methods to evaluate GDP
GDP = C + I + G + (X – M)
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.1. Population, Economic Growth, and Resource Use
• Economic growth, even measured by an imperfect metric like gross domestic product (GDP), is
now recognized as an essential driver of poverty reduction and improving people’s lives.
• However, economic growth, especially in its current form, has been causing many negative
impacts on the environment.
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.1. Population, Economic Growth, and Resource Use
a. Decreasing trend of local and visible pollutants (PM10 b. Increasing trend of global pollutants (CO2 emissions) about per
concentration) about per capita income in 2008 capita income in 2008
National level PM10 concentration
(micrograms per cubic meter)
(tons per capita)
CO2 emissions
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.1. Population, Economic Growth, and Resource Use
• The wrong slogan is “Grow now, Clean up later.”
• The current growth model is not only unsustainable but also wasteful.
• Making development sustainable requires shifting to a comprehensive green growth model.
Source: Fay, M., 2012, Inclusive green growth: The pathway to sustainable development.
World Bank Publications. pp.4&7
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.2. The SDGs Economic Factors of Sustainable Development
Biosphere Society Economy
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.2. The SDGs Economic Factors of Sustainable Development
• Target 8.1: Sustainable economic growth
• Target 8.2: Diversify, innovate and upgrade for economic productivity
• Target 8.3: Promote policies to support job creation and growing enterprises
• Target 8.4: Improve resource efficiency in consumption and production
• Target 8.5: Full employment and decent work with equal pay
• Target 8.6: Promote youth employment, education and training
• Target 8.7: End modern slavery, trafficking, and child labour
• Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe working environments
“Promote sustained,
• Target 8.9: Promote beneficial and sustainable tourism
inclusive and sustainable
economic growth, full and • Target 8.10: Universal access to banking, insurance and financial services
productive employment and
• Target 8.a: Increase aid for trade support
decent work for all”
• Target 8.b: Develop a global youth employment strategy
12 targets; 14 indicators ([Link]
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.2. The SDGs Economic Factors of Sustainable Development
• Target 9.1: Develop sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructures
• Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization
• Target 9.3: Increase access to financial services and markets
• Target 9.4: Upgrade all industries and infrastructures for sustainability
• Target 9.5: Enhance research and upgrade industrial technologies
• portion of GDP
• Target 9.a: Facilitate sustainable infrastructure development for developing
“Build resilient infrastructure, countries
promote inclusive and • Target 9.b: Support domestic technology development and industrial
sustainable industrialization,
and foster innovation” diversification
8 targets; 12 indicators • Target 9.c: Universal access to information and communications technology
([Link]
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.2. The SDGs Economic Factors of Sustainable Development
• Target 10.1: Reduce income inequalities
• Target 10.2: Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion
• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunities and end discrimination
• Target 10.4: Adopt fiscal and social policies that promote equality
• Target 10.5: Improved regulation of global financial markets and institutions
• Target 10.6: Enhanced representation for developing countries in financial institutions
• Target 10.7: Responsible and well-managed migration policies
• Target 10.a: Special and differential treatment for developing countries
“Reduce inequality within • Target 10.b: Encourage development assistance and investment in least developed
and among countries”
countries
10 targets; 14 indicators • Target 10.c: Reduce transaction costs for migrant remittances
([Link]
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.2. The SDGs Economic Factors of Sustainable Development
• Target 12.1: Implement the 10-year sustainable consumption and production framework
• Target 12.2: Sustainable management and use of natural resources
• Target 12.3: Halve global per capita food waste
• Target 12.4: Responsible management of chemicals and waste
• Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation
• Target 12.6: Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and sustainability reporting
• Target 12.7: Promote sustainable public procurement practices
• Target 12.8: Promote universal understanding of sustainable lifestyles
• Target 12.a: Support developing countries' scientific and technological capacity for sustainable
“Ensure sustainable
consumption and production
consumption and
production patterns” • Target 12.b: Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable tourism
• Target 12.c: Remove market distortions that encourage wasteful consumption
11 targets; 13 indicators
([Link]
Chapter 2. The Economic Factors of Sustainability
2.3. Case study: Uniqlo
References
1. Ellis, Erle C. (2018), Anthropocene – A very short introduction. Oxford University Press, UK.
2. Frey, R. G. & Wellman, Christopher Heath (edited) (2005), A Companion to Applied Ethics.
Blackwell Publishing Ltd., USA.
3. Light, Andrew & Rolston, Holmes (edited) (2003), Environmental Ethics – an anthology.
Blackwell Publishing Ltd., USA.
4. Light, Andrew & Katz, Eric (edited) (1996), Environmental Pragmatism. Routledge, USA.