Environmental ethics and values – UGC NET Question

Statements C and D are wrong. Environmental justice is centrally concerned with fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, not solely species conservation, and ethical considerations are very relevant for policy decisions on who bears costs and who receives benefits. Statements A and B correctly distinguish anthropocentric and ecocentric perspectives. Hence, the correct option is the one that identifies C and D together as wrong.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it groups exactly the two statements that misrepresent environmental ethics and justice, while leaving A and B recognised as accurate descriptions of ethical positions. It aligns with the conceptual treatment of ethics in People, Development and Environment.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it isolates C only and ignores D, even though D is also clearly wrong in claiming ethics are irrelevant to policy-making.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it treats B, C and D as wrong. B is actually correct, since ecocentric views extend intrinsic value to ecosystems and non-human beings. Misclassifying B undermines understanding of ethical frameworks.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it marks A, C and D as wrong. A is a valid characterisation of anthropocentric ethics, so including it among wrong statements is unjustified.