Chapter 0.1 - Resilience in the Anthropocene

Abstract

The Anthropocene emphasizes an epoch of increased human impact on our planet. It is filled with uncertainty and complexity and asks for a transformative and interdisciplinary response. The objective of this study is to bridge the gap between disciplines working on resilience and draw lessons for improved governance of vulnerable communities. We use a systematic literature review to examine how the Anthropocene and resilience are conceptualized in the fields of human geography, futures studies, and systemic design. In human geography, the focus is on increasing cultural understanding and exploring how explanations coexist in complex ways within and across cultures. The futures field uses the concept as an opportunity to push for sustainability transformations, by inviting communities to futures workshops where they can develop scenarios rooted in their own practices. The field of systemic design emphasizes the need for systemic solutions to build new relations among territorial entities, visualize hidden potentialities, and boost proactive collaboration among local actors. These disciplinary insights show that, although they all hold different perspectives, combining them brings insightful lessons for resilience thinking. We conclude that the Anthropocene needs transformative resilience that combines knowledge from different scientific disciplines with local knowledge and experiences, in a transdisciplinary way.