99
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to
Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L. Westra et al. (eds.), Ecological Integrity in Science and Law,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46259-8_9
African Eco-Philosophy and Its
Implications for Ecological Integrity
in Africa
Ngozi Finette Unuigbe
Abstract The defilement of Mother Earth by humans has caused untold damage to
the environment, and is especially accelerated by commercial interests driven solely
to increase profits by extracting as much as possible from Nature. Short-term human
interests, fuelled by an insatiable drive to accumulate money and power, have been
enshrined in various laws with total disregard for the well-being of the living Earth
Community.
As a continent, Africa is laden with environmental problems that may not necessarily be peculiar to it. However, strategies to tackle them would be more efficient
if they are borne out of local (indigenous) ideologies. This chapter will demonstrate how the engagement of African eco relationalism has significant potentials to
preserve the ecological integrity of Mother Nature on the continent and beyond. It
will begin by discussing environmental problems which are prevalent in Africa and
indeed, the rest of the world; and thereafter proceed by interrogating the relationalism element of African eco philosophy and how it can be applied to address the
environmental problems discussed.
1 Introduction
The global ecosystem has entered into a negative feedback loop, meaning our Earth
systems are unravelling—climate change, devastating air and water pollution, vastly
accelerated species extinction, and the dramatic loss of food and water systems
which are necessary for sustaining all life on the planet.
The defilement of Mother Earth by humans has caused untold damage to the
environment, and is especially accelerated by commercial interests driven solely to
increase profits by extracting as much as possible from Nature. Short-term human
interests, fuelled by an insatiable drive to accumulate money and power, have been
N. F. Unuigbe (*)
Department of Public Law, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
e-mail: ngozi.stewart-unuigbe@uniben.edu
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to
Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L. Westra et al. (eds.), Ecological Integrity in Science and Law,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46259-8_9
African Eco-Philosophy and Its
Implications for Ecological Integrity
in Africa
Ngozi Finette Unuigbe
Abstract The defilement of Mother Earth by humans has caused untold damage to
the environment, and is especially accelerated by commercial interests driven solely
to increase profits by extracting as much as possible from Nature. Short-term human
interests, fuelled by an insatiable drive to accumulate money and power, have been
enshrined in various laws with total disregard for the well-being of the living Earth
Community.
As a continent, Africa is laden with environmental problems that may not necessarily be peculiar to it. However, strategies to tackle them would be more efficient
if they are borne out of local (indigenous) ideologies. This chapter will demonstrate how the engagement of African eco relationalism has significant potentials to
preserve the ecological integrity of Mother Nature on the continent and beyond. It
will begin by discussing environmental problems which are prevalent in Africa and
indeed, the rest of the world; and thereafter proceed by interrogating the relationalism element of African eco philosophy and how it can be applied to address the
environmental problems discussed.
1 Introduction
The global ecosystem has entered into a negative feedback loop, meaning our Earth
systems are unravelling—climate change, devastating air and water pollution, vastly
accelerated species extinction, and the dramatic loss of food and water systems
which are necessary for sustaining all life on the planet.
The defilement of Mother Earth by humans has caused untold damage to the
environment, and is especially accelerated by commercial interests driven solely to
increase profits by extracting as much as possible from Nature. Short-term human
interests, fuelled by an insatiable drive to accumulate money and power, have been
N. F. Unuigbe (*)
Department of Public Law, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
e-mail: ngozi.stewart-unuigbe@uniben.edu