ENVIRONMENT ETHICS

AND RISK
COMMUNICATION
 Environment Ethics and Risk Communication
Environment Ethics
The field of environmental ethics concerns human beings’ ethical relationship with the natural
environment. While numerous philosophers have written on this topic throughout
history, environmental ethics only developed into a specific philosophical discipline in the 1970s.
This emergence was no doubt due to the increasing awareness in the 1960s of the effects that
technology, industry, economic expansion and population growth were having on the environment.
Three Environmental ethical Perspectives

Anthropocentrism Ecocentrism Considers

Considers the effects the effects of environmental
actions on all components of
of environmental our environment, both living
actions on humans and nonliving
only
Biocentrism
Considers the effects
of environmental
actions on all living
things

Anthropocentrism Emphasizes human

domination over nature and views non-
human environment as a bundle of
natural resources to be managed and
exploited for maximal human gain. The
ecosystems have only instrumental
value, not intrinsic worth.
With the time Humans started using the
environment for their benefit and the
comfort. Example trees to construct Figure 10.1
houses and industries, animal skin to
manufacture garments, both plant and
animals to manufacture and test
medicines, ect…
Now the humans are really believing on
this and we are in a very worse stage of
Anthropocentrism.

Figure 10.2
Biocentrism Considers humans are members of the Earth’s community. All species are integral
elements in a system of interdependence. All organisms are centers of life, each pursuing its own
good. Humans are not inherently superior to other living things. Human consideration on all living
organisms including animals is evident in this perspective. But nonliving aspect of nature is still
not considered. Ex. Plant and Trees
Ecocentrism is about expansion of biocentrism by including abiotic (nonliving) components of
the environment. It cares less about individual life forms but emphasizes interaction between them
and fosters a system approach. In this perspective, it is considered that, all the members in the eco
system has an equal right to live and exist. No party has any right to dominate. This support
environment sustainability.

way to go.
Examples of Ethical Environmental Issues
Below mention are some of the ethical concerns which violate egocentrism.
• Should we allow scientific research to be performed on animals?
• Should we restore the ecosystems which were destroyed by hazardous wastes?
• Should humans have more rights in this biosphere than other species?
• Should we protect endangered species?
• Should we restore the lands we destroyed?
A point to Note
More the unethical behavior of anthropocentrism, we can consider sometimes natural environment reply to
the humans in the same manner in terms of floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, tsunami and various
types natural disasters. Which creates the need for our next topic “Risk Communication” which we discuss
in the next page.

Risk Communication
What is Risk Communication?

Risk communication is the way in which decision makers communicate with various interested
parties about the nature and level of risk, and about the risk reduction strategies to reduce the risk.
It is the process of communicating potential losses and how they might be prevented. Since nature
is filled with lot of natural perils like various level of cyclone, flood, earthquakes, tsunami ect..
this is a very important and necessary topic.
Purpose of Risk Communication
The purpose of risk communication is to help in the planning of the risk assessment and to convey
the results of the risk assessment in a way that effectively supports risk management decisions;
this is so that the risk management decisions both meet the goals of the project and provide some
comfort level for stakeholders. Good risk communication strategies are a fundamental aspect of
developing trust among various stakeholders and the community.
Benefits of Risk Communication in Environmental Management
Building up trust between the industry and community
Preventing tense situations and public calamities Figure 10.3
Including community participation in the environmental management
process of the company
Preventing accidents as well as long term health/environmental hazards
Who should get involved in Risk Communication?
• Government Authorities (such as CEA, Government Departments,
Divisional secretariats, local authorities)
• Industries and Community based organizations
• Non-profit environmental organizations
• Mass media
Usually all these entities get together in the matters of natural risk situations and drive a collective
effort for a very successful risk communication.

Message Content

Reaching the proper audience through appropriate means at the proper time is a prerequisite to
effective environmental risk communication. However, the content of the message also plays a
key role in a successful communication outcome. Below mentioned are some of important the
qualities in the message content, that we used in the risk communication process.
 1. The message is consistent, complete and understandable
2. Emphasis is placed on promoting knowledge and awareness
3. Communication is in an active (here is what we are doing) voice
4. Information is provided with honesty, humility and compassion
5. What is known and not known is explicitly stated
6. Focus is put on keeping the story simple and emphasizing the big
picture Figure 10.4
7. Relevant details and appropriate analogies/tradeoffs are provided commensurate with the
type and significance of the risk involved to portray the proper risk perspective
8. Information presented is customized according to audience age, language, culture,
experience, education level and attention span

Communications Media

A multi-media approach increases the likelihood that risk stakeholders are properly informed. The
following communications media were identified as having relevance to effective environmental
risk communication:

1. Word-of-mouth
2. Informing prominent community leaders, who in turn disseminate the information
3. Public speaking engagements and involvement at community meetings
4. Interactions with focus and advocacy groups
5. Radio, television, telephone (cell & stationary) and fax
6. Broadcast via bullhorn and house-to-house personal contact
7. Internet dissemination (e.g., Web, e-mail, chat rooms)
8. Data transmission technologies (e.g., global positioning systems) Figure 10.5
9. Experiential contact (e.g., field trips) and Print media (e.g., newspaper, flyers, posters)

10. Other channels (e.g., license plates, bumper stickers, billboards)

Environment Risk Communications Process

An effective Environment Risk Communications Process can be successfully conducted under the
below mentioned guide as an stepwise process.

Understand How Communities See Risk

People evaluate and understand risk differently, depending on the inherent characteristics of the
risk itself. Communications can help people frame the risk and address issues that are of greatest
concern to communities. The more you understand the view or perceptions of the affected people
and communities, the better you will be able to address their needs. Stakeholders who perceive a
risk as unacceptable or less acceptable are more likely to express emotional outrage when
confronted with news about a hazard in their community. Practitioners need to acknowledge,
honor, and address this emotion to facilitate constructive and meaningful dialogue.

Build Trust and Credibility

Trust is a major factor in effective stakeholder engagement and risk communication. Continuing
engagement and transparency from the start sets the stage for successful trust building. Distrust
can easily form due to, but not limited to, lack of information, inability to reach decision makers,
inconsistency among several site risk management strategies, and inconsistent or contradictory
media. In addition, practitioners should keep in mind that trust is influenced by history and
previous interactions with regulatory agencies and potential responsible parties. Engagement and
partnership with a community representative group or liaison, local health practitioners, and
academic institutions can assist with building trust among the public and community stakeholders
(NJDEP 2014; Council of Australian Governments 2018; ATSDR 2011).

Release Information Effectively

If people are at risk, don’t wait to release information. If the lead organizations are exploring a
potential risk, explain this to the public. Release information before sharing it with the media.
Impacted individuals and families want to hear directly from decision makers about environmental
concerns and hazards in their community prior to learning about it through media channels.
Practitioners should make an effort to inform the community and other impacted stakeholders
directly and periodically to facilitate trust building. Taking these actions helps maintain control of
the message and interpretation of the data. If you don’t trust the data, discuss procedures and what’s
being done.

Interact with Communities

Involving stakeholders early in decision-making can support better decisions. If stakeholder
groups are present, determine how they may play a role in stakeholder engagement. Recognize
that people’s values and feelings are a legitimate aspect of an issue and listen and acknowledge
such feelings. Ensure that risk communicators are adept at interacting with stakeholders in a public
forum, and that the communication team has staff with a sound technical basis and credibility in
the subject matter. If possible, agency and responsible party representatives should be consistent
throughout the life of the project.

Explain Risks and Management Strategies

Explaining risk information about any concern affecting communities is often challenging and
complicated, particularly for environmental hazards, emerging contaminants, and immediate
public health risks. Explaining scientific concepts, such as potentially complex chemistry, data and
knowledge gaps, and current knowledge of health effects is fundamental to building trust.
Stakeholders want to know if an exposure will cause or has caused a health impact(s). Thus, risk
communication must inform on the basics of the risk assessment process so that stakeholders
understand that health effects can be caused by multiple environmental and anthropogenic factors.
Education on risk assessment basics can also inform stakeholders on how unacceptable risk can
be reduced by risk mitigation activities. The Toolkit includes information about risk
communication challenges for emerging issues and concerns as well as information to help
decision makers to learn and understanding the risk perceptions of stakeholders.