Governing Earth : The importance of the local

Harrison, Neil E. and Geyer, Robert (2021) Governing Earth : The importance of the local. In: Governing Complexity in the 21st Century :. Complexity in Social Science (1st). Taylor and Francis Group, pp. 150-172. ISBN 9780367276263

Abstract

This chapter looks at the complex relationship between social and ecological systems. Both systems are complex but in different ways and the ecological system adapts through self-organisation to intrusions by the social system which often is able to avoid adapting to the ecological system. Thus, we have the Anthropocene which eventually will force significant social adaptation. The chapter examines the ideas that have led to this divergence and some that propose a correction. It then analyses the causes of vulnerability in social systems and the need for resilience against unpredictable natural responses to human harm of the biosphere. The necessary response is to aim for resilience of the social-ecological supersystem in which higher scale social-ecological systems emerge from lower scales and in turn constrain lower scale systems. The chapter then illustrates governance in this supersystem through climate change which is caused by humanity and is now affecting human systems.