Humanitarian Context of Modern Environmental Risks (Theoretical and Methodological Aspects)

Ural State University of Economics, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation

^* Corresponding author: d.k.stozhko@mail.ru

Abstract

The purpose of the study is a comparative analysis and assessment of the current environmental situation against the background of the global environmental crisis and constantly growing turbulence, uncertainty and environmental risks. The article reveals the humanitarian context of modern environmental risks caused by extensive industrial production, the cult of consumption and wastefulness that has lasted for many decades. The resulting “consumer society” brought the situation to a global environmental crisis and transferred itself into a “risk society.” In this regard, the article raises questions about the purposeful formation of environmental culture and improvement of the regulatory framework of environmental legislation, the development of environmental consciousness and environmental psychology. It is noted that economic or technical and technological tools alone were clearly not enough to overcome negative processes in the environment. The main condition for the implementation of the author's proposals is the rejection of wastefulness and so-called false needs in favor of frugality and moderation in the consumption of natural resources.