9
1
long-term conservation of nature. The mining company arriving at Pandora introduces a completely different view of nature and how to use it. The company is not
interested in the forest or fauna, but in extracting the mineral unobtanium to sell
it on Earth. The mining operation involves the destruction of nature and constitutes a threat to what turns out to be a sophisticated natural system. Therefore,
this form of land use is also a threat to the very existence of the Na’vi themselves.
The distributional aspects of costs and benefits are that the mining company is
likely to achieve a huge profit from the sale of the mineral, while the Na’vi face the
destruction of their livelihoods. At the beginning of the film, we see how the company wants to negotiate with the Na’vi, but it is clear that the company is willing
to pay the Na’vi very little compared to the profits that it expects from selling the
mineral.
Within political ecology, special cases of environmental governance can be
investigated and analysed in relation to each of the three aspects as well as their
combinations. Such research requires knowledge about the social science dimensions of each of the aspects. At the same time, it is also important to have relevant
knowledge about natural dimensions of the species and areas that will be made
subject to use and conservation.
AGENCY
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
USE
DISTRIBUTION
MEET ALL BASIC
NEEDS TODAY
MEET ALL BASIC
NEEDS IN THE
FUTURE
ENVIRONMENTAL
GOVERNANCE
GOALS:
SUSTAINABLE
ENVIRONMENTAL
GOVERNANCE AS EXAMPLE
CONSERVATION
. Fig. 1.1 The three aspects of environmental governance (use, conservation, distribution) are produced through agency (acts by actors). Social structures limit and facilitate these actions. Normative
analyses can be undertaken by defining specific goals (such as sustainable environmental governance)
and by empirically examining the extent to which they are fulfilled in specific cases. (Source: Created
by the authors)
1.2 · Second Synthesis: Three Aspects of Environmental Governance
1
long-term conservation of nature. The mining company arriving at Pandora introduces a completely different view of nature and how to use it. The company is not
interested in the forest or fauna, but in extracting the mineral unobtanium to sell
it on Earth. The mining operation involves the destruction of nature and constitutes a threat to what turns out to be a sophisticated natural system. Therefore,
this form of land use is also a threat to the very existence of the Na’vi themselves.
The distributional aspects of costs and benefits are that the mining company is
likely to achieve a huge profit from the sale of the mineral, while the Na’vi face the
destruction of their livelihoods. At the beginning of the film, we see how the company wants to negotiate with the Na’vi, but it is clear that the company is willing
to pay the Na’vi very little compared to the profits that it expects from selling the
mineral.
Within political ecology, special cases of environmental governance can be
investigated and analysed in relation to each of the three aspects as well as their
combinations. Such research requires knowledge about the social science dimensions of each of the aspects. At the same time, it is also important to have relevant
knowledge about natural dimensions of the species and areas that will be made
subject to use and conservation.
AGENCY
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
USE
DISTRIBUTION
MEET ALL BASIC
NEEDS TODAY
MEET ALL BASIC
NEEDS IN THE
FUTURE
ENVIRONMENTAL
GOVERNANCE
GOALS:
SUSTAINABLE
ENVIRONMENTAL
GOVERNANCE AS EXAMPLE
CONSERVATION
. Fig. 1.1 The three aspects of environmental governance (use, conservation, distribution) are produced through agency (acts by actors). Social structures limit and facilitate these actions. Normative
analyses can be undertaken by defining specific goals (such as sustainable environmental governance)
and by empirically examining the extent to which they are fulfilled in specific cases. (Source: Created
by the authors)
1.2 · Second Synthesis: Three Aspects of Environmental Governance