9.10 Alan Marshall’s Ethical Approach
217
preservation on the foundation that it is of extrinsic value. Ideally, extrinsic value
implies that it is beneficial for people’s welfare.
Consequently, this approach assumes that conservation is a means to an end. It
should, therefore, deal with humankind and intergenerational considerations. One
could argue that this ethic formed the basis for the Kyoto Summit arguments in
1997 as well as three agreements contained in the 1992 Rio Summit. The 1997
Kyoto Summit was held in Japan and aimed to minimize the emission of gases that
contribute to global warming (Brechin 2003). The Kyoto Protocol acted as the first
agreement between states to foster the reduction of greenhouse gas emission. Kyoto
emanated from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
of 1992 that was signed by almost all countries in a meeting popularly called
the Rio or Earth Summit. The framework aims to stabilize greenhouse gas levels
or concentrations at a level that would deter dangerous human interference with
the climate system. The Kyoto treaty sought to actualize the pledge and became
effective in 2005. Today, almost all nations have ratified the treaty apart from the US.
Developing nations, like India and China, were not forced to minimize emissions
because they had contributed to a comparatively small proportion of the current
accumulation of carbon dioxide.
(continued)
Case Study 9.2: Apple
Fig. 9.2 Apple logo
Environmental Responsibility Report (2018) suggests that Apple’s (See
Fig. 9.2) key mission is to change the world. The company strives to minimize
its effect on the planet by focusing on three major priorities that can make a
stark difference: minimizing the effect on climate change, conservation of
finite resources, and use of safer materials in its processes and products.
Apple’s 2018 Environmental Responsibility Report suggests that Apple has
attained its target of 100% renewable energy used in all its operations,
217
preservation on the foundation that it is of extrinsic value. Ideally, extrinsic value
implies that it is beneficial for people’s welfare.
Consequently, this approach assumes that conservation is a means to an end. It
should, therefore, deal with humankind and intergenerational considerations. One
could argue that this ethic formed the basis for the Kyoto Summit arguments in
1997 as well as three agreements contained in the 1992 Rio Summit. The 1997
Kyoto Summit was held in Japan and aimed to minimize the emission of gases that
contribute to global warming (Brechin 2003). The Kyoto Protocol acted as the first
agreement between states to foster the reduction of greenhouse gas emission. Kyoto
emanated from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
of 1992 that was signed by almost all countries in a meeting popularly called
the Rio or Earth Summit. The framework aims to stabilize greenhouse gas levels
or concentrations at a level that would deter dangerous human interference with
the climate system. The Kyoto treaty sought to actualize the pledge and became
effective in 2005. Today, almost all nations have ratified the treaty apart from the US.
Developing nations, like India and China, were not forced to minimize emissions
because they had contributed to a comparatively small proportion of the current
accumulation of carbon dioxide.
(continued)
Case Study 9.2: Apple
Fig. 9.2 Apple logo
Environmental Responsibility Report (2018) suggests that Apple’s (See
Fig. 9.2) key mission is to change the world. The company strives to minimize
its effect on the planet by focusing on three major priorities that can make a
stark difference: minimizing the effect on climate change, conservation of
finite resources, and use of safer materials in its processes and products.
Apple’s 2018 Environmental Responsibility Report suggests that Apple has
attained its target of 100% renewable energy used in all its operations,
