CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF BASIC CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTALETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The  care,  management  and  preservation  of  the  natural  environment  is  an important   aspect   of   the   branch   of   philosophy   known   as   environmental philosophy.  Sometimes,  environmental  philosophy  is  called  environmental ethics.  It  is  concerned  with  the  critical  evaluation  of  human  activities  in  his environment.  It  explains  sensitive  issues  that  border  on  the  environment  in relationship  with  man,  the  need  to  protect  and  preserve  the  environment  and the  effects  of  environmental  degradation and  possible  solutions.  This  paper thus reflects on the basic problem in environmental ethics and sustainability in Nigeria,which  it  considers  as  the  lack  of  adequate  understanding  of  the environment and the place or role of man in its preservation. The paper argues that the relationship between man and the environment must be one in mutual dependency    and    harmony.Therefore    excessive    exploitation    of    the environment   by   man   must   be   avoided   and   the   environment   seen   and appreciated  from  its  intrinsic  worth.Otherwise,  there  will  not  be  an  end  to environmental disasters  since the environment has a way of  fighting back.  In the  end,  the  paper  recommends  immediate  stimulation  of  environmental consciousness  or  awareness  as  a  formidable  approach  to  the  preservation, conservation and sustenance of the environment.