Environmental ethics is a field of applied philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings to the environment and its non-human contents. It seeks to understand humans moral obligations to protect and preserve the environment. Environmental ethics emerged as a new sub-discipline of philosophy in the early 1970s, posing a challenge to traditional anthropocentrism. It questioned the assumed moral superiority of human beings to members of other species on earth and investigated the possibility of rational arguments for assigning intrinsic value to the natural environment and its non-human contents.

Environmental ethics is essential for protecting the environment, species, and resources. It promotes sustainable practices and encourages people to become more aware of the impact their actions have on the environment. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living things and the need to respect them. Environmental ethics helps to build better relationships with nature, recognizing its intrinsic value, not just its instrumental value. It encourages us to think beyond our immediate needs and consider the long-term implications of our actions. It teaches us responsibility towards our environment, advocating for environmentally friendly practices that help protect natural resources. Environmental ethics also promotes better public policies and laws, which help ensure that our environment is properly cared for.

Some of the key questions that environmental ethics explores include:

• What duties do humans have with respect to the environment, and why?
• Should humans continue to clear cut forests for the sake of human consumption?
• Why should humans continue to propagate its species, and life itself?
• Should humans continue to make gasoline-powered vehicles?
• What environmental obligations do humans need to keep for future generations?

Environmental ethics is a diverse field, with many different perspectives and approaches. Some of the different types of environmental ethics include anthropocentrism, which is human-centered, and non-anthropocentric views, which are more nature-centered.

In summary, environmental ethics is a field of applied philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings to the environment and its non-human contents. It is essential for protecting the environment, species, and resources, and promotes sustainable practices and better public policies and laws.