Abstract
The human race is experiencing climate change and the catastrophic ripple effects, e.g. increased levels of droughts, flooding, food insecurity, etc. It is cardinal that humankind adopts post-haste collective behavior to mitigate climatic changes. Interestingly, although Africa contributes less greenhouse gas emissions (that lead to climate change) than more developed continents, it is one of the most vulnerable continents when faced with climate change. International stakeholders are motivated to implement climate change adaptation strategies, e.g. sustainable development and the introduction of genetically modified crops in Africa’s agricultural sector, to lower the continent’s vulnerability. However, when developing and implementing adaptation strategies, cognizance must be allocated to the unique cultural values of various stakeholders. This is often not the case as cultural value systems of communities are neglected in these processes, e.g. the African values system of Ubuntu (which focuses on relationality). It is imperative to investigate and compare individualistic-capitalistic Western values (with its focus on sustainable development and economic growth) and the values of Ubuntu as it pertains to environmental ethics. Both value systems attribute different significance to relationality between humans, non-humans, and the natural environment. From this, I argue that the individualistic-capitalistic West has much to learn from Africa’s Ubuntu and the ensuing potential for climate change adaptation. Subsequently, a call for a universal paradigm shift will be made, away from the economic and development foci of individualistic-capitalistic values, towards Ubuntu degrowth which prioritizes communitarianism, and the principle of sufficiency. I suggest that relevant and diverse stakeholders meet around the “global roundtable” to consider and discuss different perspectives and cultural values when developing climate change adaptation strategies on a global level.
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Notes
- 1.
“Africa contains seven out of 10 of the countries that are considered the most threatened by climate change globally: Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Nigeria, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea” (Bishop 2017: 88).
- 2.
The Brundtland Report defines sustainable development as: “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (WCED 1987: 43).
- 3.
In this chapter, the term “West” refers to developed countries that are individualistic-capitalistic orientated, e.g. North America.
- 4.
Ubuntu is a cultural value system that “stresses the importance of community, solidarity, caring and sharing. This worldview advocates a profound sense of interdependence and emphasizes that our true human potential can only be realized in partnership with others” (Ngcoya 2009: 1).
- 5.
Ubuntu as an extension of degrowth is mentioned by multiple scholars in passing (D’Alisa et al. 2014: 117; Kothari et al. 2014; Martines-Alier et al. 2014: 43; Kallis 2015: 3; Maynard 2016: 71; Perrot 2015: 27; Zozuľakova 2016: 190; Cosme et al. 2017: 331; Gupta and Pouw 2017: 87; Paulson 2017: 430). In this chapter, Ubuntu as degrowth will be presented in detail.
- 6.
The concept Greenhouse gasses is defined as “any of the gases whose absorption of solar radiation is responsible for the greenhouse effect, including carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and the fluorocarbons” (Anon s.a.1).
- 7.
Although multiple definitions of Ubuntu are present in literature, conceptual traits as applicable to environmental ethics and climate change adaptation will be presented.
- 8.
The concept humaness should not be confused with the concept humaneness. Humaness refers to a the development of “one’s (moral) personhood, [which is] a prescription to acquire Ubuntu” (Metz 2011: 537); whereas humaneness is descriptive of “characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals, especially for the suffering or distressed” (Anon s.a.2). Noteworthy, humaneness does not by definition extend to the natural environment.
- 9.
It is useful to refer to predecessors instead of ancestors (which is culture-specific) to facilitate a more secular conceptualisation of Ubuntu.
- 10.
Basic needs are essential for physical survival.
- 11.
The principle of sufficiency refers to sustainable livelihoods whereby natural resources are used and distributed to meet basic needs for human survival.
- 12.
In contrast to basic needs which are essential for physical survival, false needs refer to economic and material “wants” that are not considered essential for survival.
- 13.
Gross domestic product (GDP) can be defined as “[the] total market value of the goods and services produced by a country’s economy during a specified period of time… It is used throughout the world as the main measure of output and economic activity” (Bondarenko 2017).
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Terblanché-Greeff, A.C. (2019). Ubuntu and Environmental Ethics: The West Can Learn from Africa When Faced with Climate Change. In: Chemhuru, M. (eds) African Environmental Ethics. The International Library of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Ethics, vol 29. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18807-8_7
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