Ecological Crisis Research Articles

Beyond an anthropocentric view of praxis: towards education for planetary well-being

A number of philosophical perspectives, such as deep ecology, posthumanism, and new materialisms, to name a few, have challenged the deep-rooted anthropocentric assumptions about human exceptionalism. Yet these non-anthropocentric perspectives must still find a place for human action; they require clear conceptualisations of human action and agency. It is generally acknowledged that human beings have a weighty moral responsibility for correcting the current global ecological crisis. For more than two millennia, theories of praxis supplied conceptualisations of action for the good of humankind. In this paper, we argue that the non-anthropocentric perspectives can be substantially extended and enhanced by a new theory of transformative praxis that breaks through the anthropocentric limit imposed by the notion of ‘the good for humankind’ to embrace collective human action for planetary well-being. We call this approach a praxis orientation to environmental education.

Beyond Hope: Evaluating Ecotheological Models with Respect to the Anthropocene and Eschatology

Christianity’s traditional eschatology and its belief in a new heaven and earth stand in sharp contrast with escalating concern over the devastating effects of the Anthropocene and our knowledge of the cosmos’ origins and future direction. While traditional eschatology maintains unassailable hope in a new creation, environmentally focused organisations provide grim scientific predictions regarding the extent, duration, and ferocity of climate change. The theological reflections of numerous scholars on these matters are yielding alternative ecotheologies that seek to better align the church’s response to the needs of the climate crisis. In this paper, I categorise four models of ecotheology from these alternatives and assess their fitness to respond to both the witness of scripture and to the climate crisis. This evaluation reveals stark distinctions in the approaches each model engenders, with meaningful consequences for the church’s impact on ecological crisis. I suggest the adoption of a revised eschatological hope that calls for the church’s active engagement to build the Kingdom of God in our midst and to yield a more positive future for creation.

A Poetics of the Sea

These poems and one video danced poem explore the relationship between the sea, land and ecology and shift the relationship to the ecology and climate crisis through a visceral intimacy. The poems emerge from dancing, kayaking, swimming, walking, in liminal spaces between land and sea. The poems serve as an embodied and poetic place of inquiry. My invitation is for the reader to walk along the shore of a poetics of the sea, in hope that by paying attention to what we care for now will lead us into a future we desire.

Designing biomass policy: The political economy of renewable energy for net zero

AbstractThe climate, ecological, and energy crises require change in our political, economic, and societal systems to ensure we decouple humanity from a reliance on fossil fuels, prevent rising carbon dioxide emissions, and develop sustainable solutions for people and the planet. As well as technical processes, renewable energy transitions are processes of social, environmental, and economic change which have the potential to challenge the status quo. This status quo determines who benefits from energy, where wealth is created, and the level of inequality between stakeholders within our energy systems. The politicization of energy transitions motivates stakeholders to engage in the policymaking process to ensure any trade‐offs associated with policy changes benefit them. Bioenergy is unique amongst renewable energy sources as it is inherently linked to biomass extraction from our natural environment and because biomass is the only source of renewable carbon. However, this further politicizes its use and is a source of controversy in public debate. Polarized perspectives in the public debate on biomass policy allow stakeholders to assert themselves as experts on the topic and to make authoritative claims that further their interests to influence policy development. Therefore, political and economic drivers shape and influence the sustainability and success of proposed policies. Despite this, there is little research into the nontechnical factors influencing the design of sustainable biomass policy for net zero. This research highlights how political economy impacts the success of renewable energy technologies in replacing fossil fuels and the implications for using bioenergy.This article is categorized under: Sustainable Energy > Bioenergy Policy and Economics > Energy Transitions Climate and Environment > Net Zero Planning and Decarbonization

Facilely Fabricated Porous Polymer Microfiber Tube Toward Continuous Oil-Water Separating

Serious ocean oil spills have led to shocking ecological disasters and environmental crises over the past few decades. However, owing to their intermittent mode, the present oil/water separation and collection processes generally suffer from time-consuming, complicated and expensive steps. Therefore, it is urgent to propose a facile way to consecutively separate and collect oil from oil-water mix in a one-step way. Herein, via coextrusion molding, the porous polymer (high desity polyethylene (HDPE)) microfiber tube (PPMT) was facilely fabricated. It shows high porosity (76.2±4.1%), excellent oleophilicity (OCA of 0ž) and good hydrophobicity (WCA of 135ž), resulting in decent absorption capacity of various organic pollutants (in the range of 170–350 wt.%). More interestingly, it is able to consecutively separate and collect oil from following oil-water mix and avoids secondary operation (such as extra desorption), successfully achieving efficient one-step method for oil-water separating & collecting (with a separation efficiency of 97.4%±4.7% at the average flux of 0.28 ml/s). This work proposes a novel concept for preparing porous polymer tube composed of microfibrils via a low-cost, facile and effcient method, offering an innovative way to construct the functional structure following the idea of polymer “structuring” processing.

Problematising Hierarchy and Dualism for Ecological Concern: Johnsen’s Decolonial Methodology in Defence of Non-Hierarchical Worldmaking

The climate crisis presents an urgent problem for World Christianity. Since Lynn White, Jr., argued that ‘Christianity is the most anthropocentric religion the world has seen’ (White 1967), theologians have debated to what extent Christianity is responsible for ecological crisis. In this article, I will focus on two related problems for Christian thought that Majority World theologians have highlighted – hierarchy and dualism – in order to postulate what a non-hierarchical Christian worldview might entail, drawing on the work of Sámi Norwegian Lutheran theologian Tore Johnsen, primarily his recently published book Sámi Nature-Centered Christianity in the European Arctic (2022). This article utilises a multidisciplinary, World Christianity approach to theology that draws upon Johnsen’s work to examine the two themes of hierarchy and dualism, critically questioning these concepts and examining theological implications for the climate crisis. Johnsen’s research amongst the Sámi demonstrates their expression of ‘nature-centred’ Christianity that exhibits a non-hierarchical cosmology. He contrasts this with Western Christian expressions, in particular that of the Church of Norway. Johnsen’s decolonial approach questions aspects of the Western worldview critically and helpfully with reference to the climate crisis. This article therefore problematises two related concepts of hierarchy and dualism, notions which have become embedded within Christian tradition. In questioning these underlying concepts, it draws upon Johnsen’s work to consider whether and to what extent a non-hierarchical expression of Christianity might serve as a viable alternative.

Missiology Meets Ecotheology: Creation Faith in an Intercultural Perspective

Indigenous religions around the world have brought forth functional attitudes towards their natural environment that have – until recently – proved successful. Thus, it can be assumed that a culture's creation spirituality and ethos must be rooted in a specific natural setting to be ecologically effective. The Christian creation faith with its universal truth claim, on the other hand, is globally inclusive, but tends to remain abstract, unless it is appropriately contextualised. To counter the ecological crisis, Christian principles and values need to be transferred to particular contexts to generate ecologically effective creation spiritualities, whereas indigenous beliefs ought to be adapted to meet the challenges of fast-changing environments in order to keep their relevance. This challenge reflects the general dialectic of the universality and the particularity of Christianity in the field of creation theology. The latter has not been a focus of systematic missiological considerations yet. Drawing on postcolonial theory, specifically Homi Bhabha's concept of hybridity, which enables a new perspective on syncretism, this essay attempts to outline the specific requirements of an intercultural theology of creation. Referring to case studies from Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa presented in a series of intercontinental conferences on creation spirituality, the article will explore modes of synergetic cooperation between religious traditions. It will show how ecologically valuable Christian principles have been successfully integrated with indigenous religious beliefs in selected natural and cultural environments and point out how inculturation works both ways.

Ecological problems and ecological restoration zoning of the Aral Sea

The Aral Sea was the fourth largest lake in the world but it has shrunk dramatically as a result of irrational human activities, triggering the “Aral Sea ecological crisis”. The ecological problems of the Aral Sea have attracted widespread attention, and the alleviation of the Aral Sea ecological crisis has reached a consensus among the five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan). In the past decades, many ecological management measures have been implemented for the ecological restoration of the Aral Sea. However, due to the lack of regional planning and zoning, the results are not ideal. In this study, we mapped the ecological zoning of the Aral Sea from the perspective of ecological restoration based on soil type, soil salinity, surface water, groundwater table, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), land cover, and aerosol optical depth (AOD) data. Soil salinization and salt dust are the most prominent ecological problems in the Aral Sea. The Aral Sea was divided into seven first-level ecological restoration subregions (North Aral Sea catchment area in the downstream of the Syr Darya River (Subregion I); artificial flood overflow areas downstream of the Aral Sea (Subregion II); physical/chemical remediation area of the salt dust source area in the eastern part of the South Aral Sea (Subregion III); physical/chemical remediation areas of severe salinization in the central part of the South Aral Sea (Subregion IV); existing water surface and potential restoration areas of the South Aral Sea (Subregion V); Aral Sea vegetation natural recovery area (Subregion VI); and vegetation planting areas with light salinity in the South Aral Sea (Subregion VII)) and 14 second-level ecological restoration subregions according to the ecological zoning principles. Implementable measures are proposed for each ecological restoration subregion. For Subregion I and Subregion II with lower elevations, artificial flooding should be carried out to restore the surface of the Aral Sea. Subregion III and Subregion IV have severe soil salinization, making it difficult for vegetation to grow. In these subregions, it is recommended to cover and pave the areas with green biomatrix coverings and environmentally sustainable bonding materials. In Subregion V located in the central and western parts of the South Aral Sea, surface water recharge should be increased to ensure that this subregion can maintain normal water levels. In Subregion VI and Subregion VII where natural conditions are suitable for vegetation growth, measures such as afforestation and buffer zones should be implemented to protect vegetation. This study could provide a reference basis for future comprehensive ecological management and restoration of the Aral Sea.

‘The Trees are the Clothes of the Church’: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church-Forests as Spiritual Spaces of Resilience against Climate Change?

In times of ecological crises, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church-forests are, as many suggest, sacred spaces of resilience and restoration. The need for community forest management and sustainable use of natural resources is said to be based on an ‘eco-theology of Edenic forests’ so, we ask, What can be said about conceptually defined entanglements between the theological perspective on so-called forest-churches and the ecologically oriented perspective that applies to so-called church-forests? What is the history and the present self-understanding of this phenomenon? Does it have a global dimension? How does a sacred text like Śənä Fəṭrät, with its theocentric theology and its reference to biblical testimony, create ‘sacred spaces’ in nature? The socio-ethical dimension of these church-forests is of high concern. For this, with an interdisciplinary focus, I refer to results given by existing research on the interrelations of oriental-orthodox theology, including its miaphysite Christology. Such an understanding includes reference to church architecture, biology, sociology, and on forestry in those areas of forest-churches. So we want to understand the specific religious and cultural significance of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church-forests. The relevance of these unique sacred groves cannot easily be compared to examples in other religions. But we may at least draw conclusions from other forms of Christianity and religiosity and their interpretation of common biblical and dogmatic traditions referring to the ‘creation of God’.

A Study of Dystopian Literature as a Depiction of Existing Ecological Crises and as a Caution to the Future Society

This research paper focuses on the current ecological crises that are represented in the dystopian fiction and also presents a caution to the future society to preserve the natural ecosystem for the harmonious living. Many ecological resources are becoming scarce and it is vital to take it into consideration for the welfare of the world and all the living creatures that depend upon them, for their survival. Dystopian literature intends to depict some of the probing existing environmental issues in its narrative which in turn creates awareness among the people to take necessary actions or that might lead into a unimaginable apocalyptic future as portrayed in the fictions of Dystopia. The ecological issues of Climate change, global warming, pollution, over use of technology , deforestation, Loss of biodiversity, extinction of species, depletion of Natural resources, food and water Scarcity and many issues are been faced by the current world. Dystopian fiction not only warns the people about the existing ecological issues but also about the eminent danger of the over use of technologies like bioengineering, nanotechnology which could be a potential threat to the society and its harmonious living. Along with the anthropocentric attitudes, the natural resources and the environment deteriorates in a rapid phase with alarms the human community to protect the natural treasures and dystopian literature serves as a representation of these ecological crises. It also cautions the readers about the impending dangers in the society.

Ecological crisis from a Lutheran perspective: Engaging with Pope Francis’ Laudato Si'

AbstractPope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ encompasses concerns about oppressed groups, the relationship between human beings and nature, and the welfare of the poor, and more importantly, how these issues are viewed in the context of the ecological crisis. This paper offers a Lutheran perspective on the encyclical, examining the intricate interplay between humanity and the natural world, the impoverished, anthropocentrism, and the crucial role of advancing intercultural dialogue. Pope Francis has emphasized the use of science and technology to establish an “integral ecology.” However, this paper argues that authentic faith generates personal awareness of the sinful aspects of the environmental crisis and inspires virtuous behavior. God created nature, therefore we need to care for it. This analysis makes an important contribution to the scholarly exploration of the connections between Christian theology and ecological issues. In addition, it provides a critical assessment of anthropocentrism, which should be more concerned with the value of other created beings.

Slavoj Zizek’s Criticism of Neoliberalism and Radical Political Subjects

Neoliberalism strongly endorses private property rights, free markets, and free trade. In the neoliberal economic system, the role of the state is to create and protect the existence of the market. This article aims to discuss Zizek’s critique of neoliberalism and his account of the radical subject. In this article we try to show that neoliberalism has negative impacts on developing countries, among which are the ecological crisis, economic crisis, and the privatization of national assets. We further elaborate on Zizek’s conviction that the presence of radical subjects can solve this problem by breaking through neoliberalism as The Big Other. The post-liberal ideology that he sees as an alternative for creating people’s welfare is “new communism,” which is different from the old communism proposed by Lenin. This communism emphasizes global solidarity in dealing with global problems and reinvigorates the role of the state as a facilitator to support the national economy.

Theoretical Basis and Realization Path of Early Childhood Ecological Education

In today's ecological crisis, raising ecological awareness and shaping ecological civilization should be started from childhood, and the ecological education in early childhood stage focuses on enlightening young children to establish the ecological consciousness of harmonious coexistence between human and nature. The physical and mental development of young children's characteristics determine the ecological education of young children should follow the principle of organic whole, Whitehead's philosophy of organism also presents the ecological implications of organic whole, that is, the ecological implications of the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, as well as a kind of organic educational ideas, that is, pay attention to the process of education, organic, holistic. This is inherently compatible with the ecological education of young children, and brings value inspiration to the ecological education of young children. To realize an organic ecological education for young children, it is necessary to establish an organic ecological concept of harmonious symbiosis; to construct an organic ecological education content for young children that puts equal emphasis on knowledge, emotion, intention and action; to form an educational process that focuses on young children's life and practice; and to integrate the resources of kindergartens, families and the society to improve the synergistic mechanism of ecological education for young children.

인류세 시대, 교육에 관한 생태학적 고찰: 브뤼노 라투르의 근대 비판과 정치생태학을 중심으로

The Anthropocene, first proposed by Crutzen and Stoermer in 2000, has been actually felt as a concrete reality over the past 20 years. Global impacts of human activities, which have significantly increased since the Industrial Revolution, have led to a serious ecological crisis, and aroused critical reflections on modernity based on anthropocentricism. This study focuses on the critique of modernity and political ecology by Bruno Latour (1947―2022), for the purpose of establishing reflective points and theoretical foundations on education to proceed toward a path for ecologization in times of crisis. His political ecology begins with a critique of modern dualism and purification, which has separated nature from human society and culture. He focuses on the interdependence and network of inhabitants, living within the system of engenderment of the Earth, which is called “Gaia,” emphasizing the agency of non-humans and the symmetrical relationship between humans and non-humans. He also explores the possibilities of solidarity of a new ecological class in the direction of ecologization, concerning the habitability of vulnerable beings. Through an analysis of his critique of modernity and political ecology, this study suggests alternative points of education in Korean society from modern self-reliance to the relational ethics of interdependence and from economic values to ecological values. It then proposes educational transformation to seek ecological citizenship and expanded democracy, which concern the habitability of vulnerable beings and represent their ontology.

The Black Anthropocene: and the end(s) of the constitutionalizing project

This article is written in response to the assumptions and objectives of a recent project coming out of Tilburg Law School, called ‘Constitutionalizing in the Anthropocene’, but can be read just as easily as a stand-alone piece. The analysis presented here is based on an understanding of the concept ‘Anthropocene’ as rejecting modernist ontological assumptions about a split between human and nature. The concept says that this split is fictitious and can no longer hold in the present context of ecological crisis. The project to constitutionalize the conditions of living in the Anthropocene recognizes the importance of this shift but, this article argues, fails to fully acknowledge the implications for law. In contrast, this article explores the alternative concept of the ‘Black Anthropocene’ as a (para-)ontological understanding and an ethico-political response that better captures the concept of Anthropocene, including the legal implications. Grounded in the concept of Black Anthropocene, this article demarcates two distinct approaches to relationality and to the legal subject. It then utilizes this framing to rethink constitutionalization as disavowing the imbrication of law within a modernist ontology of separation and, as a result, the possibilities for constitutionalizing the Anthropocene at all. The article argues that focusing on anti-Blackness as central to the modernist ontology of human and world opens other possibilities for thought, leading us to question, rather than seek to preserve, the authority and legitimacy of projects of constitutionalization per se.

A conceptual history of entropies

In this article I will try to suggest a transdisciplinary framework in order to analyse the contemporary ecological polycrisis which is usually described as the Entropocene era. According to French philosopher Barnard Stiegler, the Anthropocence can be understoodas an Entropocene, because the current ecological crisis consists in a process of massive increase of entropy in all its forms : thermodynamic entropy (that is, dissipation of physical or chemical energy), biological entropy (as the destruction of biodiversity), and psycho-social entropy (as the reduction of knowledge to data and calculations, through digital disruptive technologies). In order to analyze this situation, we need a transversal conception of entropy : from Bergson’s philosophy of life to Stiegler’s philosophy of technics, going through Schrodinger’s physics, Wiener’s cybernetics, Lotka’s biology and Levi-Strauss’s anthropology, I will try to build a conceptual history of entropies and to explore its economic and political consequences, in order to open new paths beyond the Entropocene era.

Thinking through ruination: an introduction

This introduction aims to present the main contributions of the two parts of the special section – titled “Thinking through ruination: theoretical and empirical approaches to the ruins of the Anthropocene”. The focus of this special section is to explore the anthropogenic ruins of our recent past within the current context of environmental challenges and threats. The compiled articles exemplify the significance of examining these ruins, highlighting their richness and cross-disciplinary nature. Additionally, the introduction underscores the fertile intersections between the articles and discusses their common motifs in addressing the ecological crisis through the lens of ruins and ruination processes.

CuO-In2O3 collaboration in CO2 electroreduction: Enhanced activity and synergistic mechanism

The conversion of CO2 into high value–added products via electrocatalytic technology is one of the most attractive methods of addressing the ecological crisis and achieving carbon neutrality. In this study, we present CuO-In2O3 nanosheets with bifunctional active components for the efficient electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO. The catalyst demonstrates a current density of 35.3 mA cm−2 with a high faradic efficiency of 97.3 % toward CO at − 0.6 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. In situ attenuated total reflection surface–enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations reveal that the synergistic catalysis of CuO and In2O3 rationally balances the binding energy to *COOH and *CO intermediates. It promotes the catalyst selectivity for CO. Furthermore, CuO and In2O3 play key roles as bifunctional active sites. In particular, CuO enhances the activity of CO2 and reduces the formation energy barrier of the reaction intermediates, whereas In2O3 suppresses the adsorption of *H and limits the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Meaning making and fostering radical hope: applying positive psychology to eco-anxiety research in youth

The consequences of human activity on climate change are increasingly apparent. For example, they are causing ecological degradation and affecting human and animal health. Rightly so, it is considered as the most important challenge of this century. Researchers in psychology and mental health developed an interest in the direct and indirect effects of climate and ecological change on people's psychological wellbeing, which is referred to as a concept described as eco-anxiety or eco-distress. It is worth emphasizing that climate issues are taking a larger place in the school curriculum for youth in elementary, middle and high schools. Youth are thus increasingly aware of the major threat and understandably report legitimate concerns and worries. For some youth, eco-anxiety leads to greater involvement and activism, as can be seen by the international movement set out and led by youth activist Greta Thunberg. However, eco-anxiety can also lead to feelings of hopelessness and disengagement. Despite contributing the least to the climate and ecological crises, youth will be most affected by the impacts, and will carry the burden of the climate crisis throughout their lives. Researchers, educators and mental health professionals must therefore find ways to foster youth psychosocial wellbeing and resilience alongside ensuring that their voices are heard. To this end, it is vital that young people feel able to openly discuss climate change and associated issues alongside the distressing thoughts and feelings they engender. This can be supported by using various psychological approaches to develop effective interventions. Researchers and clinicians in child mental health could gain from drawing from research in positive psychology to develop such interventions. In this review and commentary, we will outline how eco-anxiety and child psychological wellbeing can be framed within a positive psychology framework, including the relevance of self-determined motivation. Insights from interventions based on positive psychology including exercises to foster hope, forgiveness and meaning making will also be discussed. We will highlight how such interventions can be adapted as powerful tools to foster child wellbeing and cope with their eco-anxiety.

Challenges and Opportunities of Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice in the Face of Climate Change and Ecological Crisis in Japan

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate challenges and opportunities of environmental sustainability and social justice in the face of climate change and ecological crisis in Japan
 Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
 Findings: Japan faces challenges in environmental sustainability and social justice due to its reliance on fossil fuels and an aging population. Transitioning to renewables and addressing healthcare for the elderly are critical. However, Japan's technological prowess presents opportunities for cleaner energy solutions. The country's strong sense of community can aid social justice efforts during climate-related disasters, promising a more sustainable and equitable future.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Environmental justice theory, ecological modernization theory & political ecology theory may be used to anchor future studies on challenges and opportunities of environmental sustainability and social justice in the face of climate change and ecological crisis in Japan. Policymakers and practitioners should adopt integrated strategies that consider both environmental sustainability and social justice in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Governments and international organizations should incorporate environmental justice principles into climate policies, ensuring that marginalized communities have equitable access to environmental benefits and are protected from environmental harms.