Discuss the Insight Sociology Can Contribute to Our Understanding of Global Green Issues

This essay will seek to show, how human activates has led to destruction of the natural environment. It will explore on the history of sociology, and outline on environmental problems created by industrialisation and globalisation. Furthermore, the essay will outline on the emergence of environmental movements and the dangers of risky society, and finally ends with recap of the main points.

Sociology is attributed to Augustus Comte; his ideas were largely influenced by unprecedented events which took place during the French revolution. The enlightment developed new ways of thinking; based on rational thinking, in context of science. The enlightment also known as modernity ‘believed people could improve themselves by improving nature offering a programme of progress through science technology and industry’ (Barry, 2007, p43).

Thus, enlightment compelled people to change their way of life. People moved from the rural areas, where they survived on agricultural activities to urban areas, to work in the industrial sites. Eventually they were separated from nature. Here it is worth to point out that classic sociology did not incorporate theories of the environment, apart from briefly touching on how people were separated from nature.

The emergence of Industrialization led to degradation of the environment. As a result, the natural environment was destroyed, as to prepare land for settlement and to feed the capitalist industries, with raw materials. Merchant cited in (Sutton, 2007) reinforces the argument, that Morden sciences fuelled the death of nature. Similarly, Goldblatt (1996) point out that, from the moment capitalism was unleashed destruction of the environment through combination of human activities, was imminent.

Strictly speaking, natural environment sustains itself, hence it does not depend on humans .However humans depend on the environment to meet their basic needs such as food, fuel and medicine. (Barry, 2007)

In Morden societies...