6
Introduction
2.4 Environment and Sociology
The weight of questions linked to the Environment in our societies is also
measured by the antagonism or conflicts it arouses.
The man of the street is often in contradiction with himself, simultaneously driver
and pedestrian, consuming more and more synthetic products, yet demanding they
be ever purer and more natural. He agrees to the necessity of installing plants for
treating waste products but local egotism results in each one wanting to see the
project carried out in his neighbor's backyard.
It no longer suffices to work out increasingly severe technical requirements; it is
necessary to discuss and explain. To bring a project to fruition today involves
carrying out a real strategy going far beyond the purely technical aspects. Indeed
a whole teaching process must be set up to change age-old daily behavior habits.
Cooperation and information exchanges among elected representatives,
environmental protection associations and local populations are more and more
important for success in completing a project.
3 CONCLUSION
As we can indeed see, the Environment no longer has any borders. Global
pollution problems confirm the need for reaching agreement on a planetary scale.
We already knew that Environment was a transversal science, requiring various
technical competencies; henceforth its social dimension must also be considered.
If today I want the Ministry of the Environment to be more respected, consulted,
listened to in political life, it is in truth because the Environment is so close to us
and so deeply concerns us all.
Thank you.
Chambiry, Monday 19 September 1994.
Since this lecture, given then as Minister of the Environment, the relevance of the
issues discussed is recognized by all. In this book on many aspects of the
environment studied during the Chambery Conference, CODATA presents updates
taking into account current results of the struggle to preserve our environment.
KEYWORDS
Environment, climate, ozone, ethics, rights, sociology.
Introduction
2.4 Environment and Sociology
The weight of questions linked to the Environment in our societies is also
measured by the antagonism or conflicts it arouses.
The man of the street is often in contradiction with himself, simultaneously driver
and pedestrian, consuming more and more synthetic products, yet demanding they
be ever purer and more natural. He agrees to the necessity of installing plants for
treating waste products but local egotism results in each one wanting to see the
project carried out in his neighbor's backyard.
It no longer suffices to work out increasingly severe technical requirements; it is
necessary to discuss and explain. To bring a project to fruition today involves
carrying out a real strategy going far beyond the purely technical aspects. Indeed
a whole teaching process must be set up to change age-old daily behavior habits.
Cooperation and information exchanges among elected representatives,
environmental protection associations and local populations are more and more
important for success in completing a project.
3 CONCLUSION
As we can indeed see, the Environment no longer has any borders. Global
pollution problems confirm the need for reaching agreement on a planetary scale.
We already knew that Environment was a transversal science, requiring various
technical competencies; henceforth its social dimension must also be considered.
If today I want the Ministry of the Environment to be more respected, consulted,
listened to in political life, it is in truth because the Environment is so close to us
and so deeply concerns us all.
Thank you.
Chambiry, Monday 19 September 1994.
Since this lecture, given then as Minister of the Environment, the relevance of the
issues discussed is recognized by all. In this book on many aspects of the
environment studied during the Chambery Conference, CODATA presents updates
taking into account current results of the struggle to preserve our environment.
KEYWORDS
Environment, climate, ozone, ethics, rights, sociology.