‘Deep adaptation’ refers to the personal and collective changes that might help us to prepare for – and live with – a climate-influenced breakdown or collapse of our societies. It is a framework for responding to the terrifying realization of increasing disruption by committing ourselves to reducing suffering while saving more of society and the natural world. This is the first book to show how professionals across different sectors are beginning to incorporate the acceptance of likely or unfolding societal breakdown into their work and lives. They do not assume that our current economic, social and political systems can be made resilient in the face of climate change but, instead, they demonstrate the caring and creative ways that people are responding to the most difficult realization with which humanity may ever have to come to terms.
Edited by the originator of the concept of deep adaptation, Jem Bendell, and a leading climate activist and strategist, Rupert Read, this book is the essential introduction to the concept, practice and emerging global movement of Deep Adaptation to climate chaos.
Author(s): Jem Bendell (editor), Rupert Read (editor)
Edition: 1
Publisher: Polity
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 224
City: Cambridge
Tags: sustainability, climate change
Endorsement
Title Page
Copyright
Acknowledgements
About the Contributors
Introduction: What Next, Now That the Limits Have Been Breached?
References
Part I The Predicament
1 What Climate Science Can and Cannot Tell Us About Our Predicament
Where we are after 125 years of climate science
The root of denial may be found in the workings of climate science
A case for the virtue of scientific ignorance
Two possible new approaches for survival and compassion
References
2 Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy
Preamble
Introduction
Locating this study within academia
Our non-linear world
Looking ahead
Apocalypse uncertain
Systems of denial
Framing after denial
The deep adaptation agenda
Research futures in the face of climate tragedy
Conclusions
References
3 Reasons for Anticipating Societal Collapse
Introduction
What do we do with this?
References
Part II Shifts in Being
4 Climate Psychology and its Relevance to Deep Adaptation
Why climate psychology?
Shiva – seeing what we need to see from inside a sick culture
Formation
The devil has the best tunes
Denial
Forms of denial
Denialism
Disavowal
A nexus of denial
The psychotherapy profession – another case study?
References
5 Deeper Implications of Societal Collapse: Co-liberation from the Ideology of E-s-c-a-p-e
Entitlement in E-s-c-a-p-e ideology
Surety in e-S-c-a-p-e ideology
Control in e-s-C-a-p-e ideology
Autonomy in e-s-c-A-p-e ideology
Progress in e-s-c-a-P-e ideology
Exceptionalism in e-s-c-a-p-E ideology
Habits of e-s-c-a-p-e in the climate change field
The economic reproduction of e-s-c-a-p-e
Moving beyond e-s-c-a-p-e to c-o-s-m-o-s
Considerations for co-liberation from destructive ideology
References
6 Unconscious Addictions: Mapping Common Responses to Climate Change and Potential Climate Collapse
Introduction
Climate collapse denial
The house of modernity and its four constitutive denials
Responses to the possibility of climate collapse
The rehab
References
7 Facilitating Deep Adaptation: Enabling More Loving Conversations about Our Predicament
The importance of facilitating groups in the face of collapse
Understanding ‘othering’ and its remedy with facilitation
Aspects of facilitating deep adaptation
Containment
Denial and radical uncertainty
Grief
Examples of deep adaptation modalities and facilitated processes
Deep listening
Conclusion
References
8 The Great Turning: Reconnecting Through Collapse
Natural allies
Facing collapse
Doing the work
Meaning and hope in a time of collapse
Conclusion: People of the Passage
References
Part III Shifts in Doing
9 Leadership and Management in a Context of Deep Adaptation
Introduction
What we know about leadership in times of collapse
Social functions performed by leadership
What it takes to sustain kind, inclusive, effective and legitimate leadership
What can be done to generate the more desirable modes of leadership and management
References
10 What Matters Most? Deep Education Conversations in a Climate of Change and Complexity
The distillations of a deep adaptation inquiry
Resilience: what aspects of education as we know it would we want to develop and learn from in a climate of change and complexity?
Relinquishment: what aspects of education as we know it would we want to let go of?
Restoration: what would we want to reintroduce into education?
Reconciliation: how can education facilitate acceptance as well as agency?
The deep education conversation
The deep challenge
The call to action
Emerging global practices
Workshops on climate breakdown: Simona Vaitkute, Lithuania
Self-directed education (SDE) and full human rightsexperience education (FHREE): Je’anna Clements, Riverstone Village, South Africa
References
11 Riding Two Horses: The Future of Politics and Activism, as We Face Potential Eco-driven Societal Collapse
References
12 Relocalization as Deep Adaptation
Resilience
Aspects of relocalization
Food
Electricity
Government
Finance
Money
Localization movements
Intentional communities
Transition network (TN)
Global justice and organizing for relocalization
Conclusion
References
Concluding the Beginning of Deep Adaptation
Communicating deep adaptation
Seek more justice?
Integrate more clearly?
Map collapse better?
Avoid safety of frameworks?
Be more positive?
Conclusion: an end to the beginning
References
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