Humans and the Natural World Article 7
 

The philosopher Rene Descartes (1596-1650) had little regard for nature, which he considered an infinite resource that humans can draw upon without any qualms. We can see to what extent such assumptions have led, and that is to the overexploitation of nature in all too many ways.  Whereas in 1937, the British botanist, Arthur George Tansley, proposed the concept of the interactions of the various living species among themselves, and with the physical environment: soil, air, climate, etc. In this context, man rediscovers himself as belonging to nature, as an element of the ecosystem. Moreover, this ecosystem is a finite environment, with limited resources, both upstream and downstream of human activities.

Later in the 20th Century ‘deep ecology’ saw the basis of the environmental problem in anthropocentrism. They advocate a philosophy of the totality that integrates humans with the rest of nature without granting them any particular status. However, a recent approach to the human/nature dialogue keeps a distance from deep ecology while acknowledging its relevance. Humans must coexist in a more respectful way with the rest of nature while allowing that humans have the power and responsibility to protect the Living Earth.

It could be argued that science bears a heavy responsibility for much of the climate problem, mainly because of the power developed by new technologies. For the first time in history, human activities are leading to changes in the environment that affect all of humanity, as well as the Living Earth. However, science also makes us aware of the problems related to the ecological crisis. It plays a decisive role in the development of scenarios that could lead to the rational management of the climate crisis. Science can destroy us, but it can also help to save us.

It ought to be acknowledged that we have begun a transition towards societies concerned with ecological concerns. Such transition is essential for effective and positive action concerning the Living Earth.

A fundamental issue is the future of humanity, and uncontrolled climate warming can cause human life on Earth to become much more difficult, if not impossible. Thus act so that the effects of your actions are compatible with the sustainability of human and non-human life on Earth.

For tens, even hundreds of thousands of years we have lived closely with nature: hunting, tracking, sleeping under the stars, foraging for wild berries, nuts, and tubers, and walking the land as a nomadic people. We have walked the land ever since we have been a species, and co-evolved with nature and that helps to explain why even today we derive so many health benefits from walking and interacting with the Living Earth.

Before it is too late most of us must gain an insight into how to live lightly within the limits of the Earth’s resources. Meanwhile, there is no simple answer that is going to solve the toxic manner in which so many of us live in today’s world. But solve it we must. However, the wisdom of our Hunter-Gatherer ancestors concerning the natural world could play a role in helping to offer perspectives on how to live sustainably with nature.

For our ancestors it was clear that everything on the Living Earth is somehow connected at a fundamental level. Sadly for us, in our atomised, isolated culture it is less apparent, and yet these are precisely the insights and perspectives that we must now relearn. The future lies in understanding both interconnectedness and diversity regarding the natural world. We must acknowledge our interdependent actions with the Living Earth. We must build a future free from a fossil fuel past in order to build a sustainable future.

To bring the natural system into balance, an economy that is sustainable and respects the limits of natural resources and the functions of ecosystems is fundamental. This needs a shift in how we value, use, and dispose of resources, creating a circular system, as we find in nature.  The dumping of toxic wastes, the spraying of dangerous pesticides, the exploitation of both humans and animals etc., indicates a lack of fundamental understanding of what it is to be human living in the natural world. The challenge then, for the rest of the twenty-first century, is how to reclaim our humanity as a member of the Earth community, and recognize that our activities have consequences.

It seems that the neo-liberal political-economic system is deepening economic divides among people and countries. Its economic instruments applied to nature, are simply displacing impacts from one place to another, but at an accelerating pace of destruction.

“Economic growth is becoming more elusive. The capitalist paradigm as a world economic system seems to be failing. The ability to successfully move towards the Anthropocene requires a fundamentally different political-economy that reflects new ethics and priorities. That is ethics of care, of compassion etc., and asks what is sufficient for human well-being. It will involve a new type of growth everywhere, growth of partnerships among people and the planet for a wholesome future. And it will take reflection and time.” Stephanie Pincetl

Restoring the natural cycle and ecological functions of soil, water and nutrients are the key to human sustainability, as well as new ways to measure development beyond GDP, capturing the value of nature.

According to a recent WWF Living Planet Report degradation of habitat and climate are the main threats for the loss of species. Understanding the reasons for the decline of animal and plant species is essential to protect them and the future of human life. Because of human actions many more species will prove to be the last of their kind.

Once humans exchanged their Hunter-Gatherer existences for more settled communities in a quest to make our lives more ‘comfortable’ we've been extracting precious and finite resources from the Earth since then, doing so at great cost to the environment and to our future existence. We humans have spent an enormous amount time living as Hunter-Gatherers. That was, and is the natural way for us to live, and we're now living in this profoundly unnatural way, and we're still in the process of adapting to it and working out how to live with it. However, without recapturing the wisdom of our ancient ancestors the future for humanity looks grim.

To make a transition toward an economic system that is in balance with nature requires knowledge and understanding of the linkages between environmental wellbeing and quality of human life. To ensure this interconnectivity at the governance level, local authorities have a lot to gain when they pursue the protection of natural resources thus creating multiple benefits for citizens, for example, creating space for nature in urban areas, thus improving the environment and human well-being.

Solutions that combine ecology and economy create value based on the potential of circular systems, inspired by nature, are key for restoring the balance between humanity and the natural world. This includes the restoration of damaged ecosystems and ecosystem benefits, halting the loss of priority habitats and significantly expanding the global protected areas network.

The target to serious reduce the loss of natural habitats across the Earth has yet to be achieved. While global deforestation rates have slowly decreased in recent years the degradation of biodiversity-rich ecosystems in the tropics remains high, as in many areas of the planet. The most important goal for current and future generations is to make the shift that disentangles economic development from environmental degradation in order, to create a future that is in harmony with the natural world.

We need to become stewards of the planet. When we are able to bring back the motivation and imagination to restore and protect the Living Earth many worthwhile opportunities become possible.

Unfortunately, we keep on degrading and destroying the Living Earth, and are becoming increasingly impoverished because of such destruction. This trend is difficult to reverse in that it is often an uphill struggle for many people to believe it is even happening, or that we cannot do anything to stop it. But we can, and must.