Energy Environment and Economy
Energy, Environment and Sustainable Sciences | online ISSN 3069-0935
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Volume 4 Number 1 2026
REVIEWS (Open Access)
Environmental & Ecological Protection in Philosophical Pathways: A Critical Review of Ethics-Led Environmentalism
Md. Anwar Hossain 1*, Partho Protim Bhattacharya 1, Kanij Ruksana 2
Energy Environment and Economy 4 (1) 1-19 https://doi.org/10.25163/energy.4110781
Submitted: 10 June 2026 Revised: 13 August 2026 Accepted: 14 August 2026 Published: 14 August 2026
Abstract
Environmental degradation is often discussed as a technical challenge—one that can be solved through better technologies, stricter regulations, or more efficient resource management. Yet despite decades of scientific advances and policy interventions, ecological decline continues to accelerate. This persistent gap raises an uncomfortable but increasingly unavoidable question: are environmental crises fundamentally ethical problems as much as technical ones? This review explores the philosophical foundations of ethics-led environmentalism and examines how moral reasoning can contribute to more durable forms of ecological governance. Drawing upon scholarship in environmental ethics, environmental justice, ecological philosophy, sustainability studies, and environmental law, the review synthesizes diverse perspectives including ecocentrism, biocentrism, stewardship ethics, intergenerational justice, Earth Jurisprudence, and culturally grounded traditions such as Dharma, Ubuntu, and the Chinese philosophy of human–nature harmony. The analysis further evaluates distributive, procedural, and recognition-based dimensions of environmental justice and investigates illustrative cases from Europe, North America, India, and China. Across these contexts, a recurring pattern emerges: environmental initiatives tend to achieve greater legitimacy and longevity when ethical commitments are translated into institutional practice. The review also considers economic, political, and cultural barriers that complicate the implementation of ethics-led approaches. Ultimately, it argues that environmental protection cannot rely solely on technical expertise and regulatory containment. A genuinely sustainable future requires ecological governance grounded in moral responsibility, social justice, and a renewed understanding of humanity’s relationship with the natural world.
Keywords: Environmental Ethics, Ecological Governance, Environmental Justice, Ecocentrism, Intergenerational Justice, Sustainability, Earth Jurisprudence
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