Question

Which of the following environmental concepts or framework models argues that the biosphere acts as a self-regulating, complex singular organism maintaining climate stability through feedback loops?

• A. \( \text{The Tragedy of the Commons} \)
• B. \( \text{The Gaia Hypothesis} \)
• C. \( \text{The Deep Ecology Paradigm} \)
• D. \( \text{The Limits to Growth Model} \)

Hint:

Whenever an environmental question describes Earth acting as a single, self-regulating biological organism, the answer is always the Gaia Hypothesis (named after the ancient Greek goddess of the Earth).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Global environmental politics involves different theories regarding how humans should interact with the Earth.
The idea of the Earth as a "living entity" is a specific scientific and philosophical hypothesis.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Gaia Hypothesis: Developed by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis in the 1970s.
It states that living organisms and their inorganic surroundings (air, water, rocks) form a single, self-regulating system that maintains the conditions for life.
2. Other Concepts:
- Tragedy of the Commons: Focuses on how shared resources are overexploited.
- Deep Ecology: Argues for the intrinsic value of nature, regardless of human utility.
- Limits to Growth: A 1972 report about the exhaustion of finite resources.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The model describing the biosphere as a self-regulating singular organism is the Gaia Hypothesis. Thus, (B) is correct.