UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

Environmental & Ecological Protection in Philosophical Pathways: A Critical Review of Ethics-Led Environmentalism

Identification

Public canonical key

doi:10.25163/energy.4110781

Authors

Md. Anwar Hossain · P. Bhattacharya · Kanij Ruksana

Reported year

2026

Reported language

en

Source type

article

First detected

2026-11-09T19:04:47.970443+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-09T19:11:08.570683+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Documentary abstract — original language

Environmental degradation is often discussed as a technical challenge—one that can be solved through better technologies, stricter regulations, or more efficient resource management. Yet despite decades of scientific advances and policy interventions, ecological decline continues to accelerate. This persistent gap raises an uncomfortable but increasingly unavoidable question: are environmental crises fundamentally ethical problems as much as technical ones? This review explores the philosophical foundations of ethics-led environmentalism and examines how moral reasoning can contribute to more durable forms of ecological governance. Drawing upon scholarship in environmental ethics, environmental justice, ecological philosophy, sustainability studies, and environmental law, the review synthesizes diverse perspectives including ecocentrism, biocentrism, stewardship ethics, intergenerational justice, Earth Jurisprudence, and culturally grounded traditions such as Dharma, Ubuntu, and the Chinese philosophy of human–nature harmony. The analysis further evaluates distributive, procedural, and recognition-based dimensions of environmental justice and investigates illustrative cases from Europe, North America, India, and China. Across these contexts, a recurring pattern emerges: environmental initiatives tend to achieve greater legitimacy and longevity when ethical commitments are translated into institutional practice. The review also considers economic, political, and cultural barriers that complicate the implementation of ethics-led approaches. Ultimately, it argues that environmental protection cannot rely solely on technical expertise and regulatory containment. A genuinely sustainable future requires ecological governance grounded in moral responsibility, social justice, and a renewed understanding of humanity’s relationship with the natural world.

Identifiers

OPENALEX

W7203572048

DOI

10.25163/energy.4110781

OPENAIRE

doi_________::daa40f000ea22110ce96a2332e8cb031

Documentary context

Documentary family

Scholarship

Source-reported types

Article · article

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAIRE · Record 1

OpenAlex · Record 1 · Record 2

• DOI · https://doi.org/10.25163/energy.4110781
• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W7203572048

Documentary status

Relevance pending

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