DUTY TO THE ENVIRONMENT
The lifestyle of industrialized nations requires high energy usage. The consumption of fossil fuels and the careless disposal of waste products have caused a gradual deterioration in the environment. The deterioration is evident in increased water pollution, acid rain, the greenhouse effect (global warming), and the increasing problem of waste disposal, to mention only a few of the most obvious aspects.
The question may fairly be asked "What is best for society? Who should take the benefits of new developments and the hazards that accompany them?" The answer has usually been formulated using the utilitarian principle of creating the maximum good for the maximum number of people.