Values of nature and their role in environmental risk assessment

Environmental risk assessment (ERA) underpins many national and international environmental decision-making processes, from the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement under WTO to the EC Regulation on Invasive Alien Species. Despite its significant role in environmental decision-making, relatively little work has focused on characterising the environmental values that allow risk assessors to identify potential environmental harm or adverse environmental effects. Society does not treat all organisms equally.
The definition of unacceptable environmental harm is a product of social and cultural values, yet when discussion about conceptual linkages between such values and the environmental risk occurs, the arguments indicate substantial gaps between contemporary ecologists and environmental ethicists, so that the insights of one group rarely inform the thinking of the other one. I will discuss the following questions: What justifies nature protection? What forms of protection can be justified? Does the currently dominant utilitarian approach (protect nature because it provides benefits via ecosystem services) provide sufficient theoretical grounds for nature protection, or is it “only” pragmatical under current conditions? Is the species-centered approach, currently with international legal recognition an appropriate basis for nature protection, in the light of the holobiome concept?

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If you prefer to attend this lecture in presence, you should write to segreteria.isa@unibo.it within March 15th, 12 p.m. and book your place. The places will be assigned on “first come first served” basis.

In order to attend lectures in presence you must have a COVID-19 Green Pass and show it on the premises.
In-presence attendance is allowed for the academic community only.

The visit of Gabor Lövei is organized in collaboration with Alessandro Chiarucci from the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences.