Leverage Points and Anthropocene Narratives: A Theoretical Approach to Reconnecting Humanity with Nature

Abstract

Reconnecting humanity with nature for global sustainability is a topic of interest in the sustainability sciences and interdisciplinary humanities. The purpose of this research is twofold. First, theoretical perspectives from imperative post-humanist scholars are investigated in search of frameworks for reconceptualizing humanity's relationship with nature. Second, these frameworks are applied in examining various types of human-nature connections from a sustainability transformation science perspective. This research affirms the importance of integrating post-humanist insights into sustainability science perspectives for a deeper understanding of what it means for humans to reconnect with nature, and what this reconnection could look like. Key findings demonstrate three necessary research areas: (i) research into how the lack of post-humanist insights in sustainability science narratives relates to unsustainable outcomes; (ii) research to investigate the relative transformation potential of nature connections revamped by post-humanist perspectives; (iii) research on turning sustainability science theory informed by post-humanist perspectives into practice.