About the project
GREENSTORY studies the potency of philosophical, Indigenous, religious, and scientific storytelling in transforming knowledge into action.
Among the most encompassing descriptors of the current state of the planet is the triple planetary crisis. This refers to the interrelated systemic threats of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. It is by now almost impossible to avoid a 1,5 degrees increase in temperatures over preindustrial levels; the number of plant and animal species and the number of individuals in most species is decreasing; and water, soil, and air are being polluted.
Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution are pushing the planet to the verge of a series of negative tipping points for nature, which, upon reaching them, would lead to rapid collapses. Examples include the risk of the Amazon becoming an arid savannah and the collapse of the Greenland Ice Sheet melting into the open sea.
The triple planetary crisis, global harm that harms billions of human and non-human lives, has been predicted to ripple in increased criminality. Knowledge has proven to be insufficient to lead to societal change regarding our relationships with nature, and while renewed focus has been on storytelling, we know little about the potency of different stories to transform ecological knowledge into ecological wisdom.
Objectives
- To gather diverse knowledge from both lay and scientific communities worldwide about respectful ways of interacting with nature while satisfying fundamental needs. This aim is based on the recognition that there are multiple ways of living, and in the richness of such variety, valuable alternatives can be found for healthy human behaviour in and with nature.
- To disseminate such knowledge in a variety of ways so as to create an ecology of knowledge that counteracts the hegemonic instrumental and exploitative views of nature. The project takes in knowledge and simultaneously gives it out.
- To serve as a pilot study about the potency of different means to disseminate knowledge regarding their role in raising awareness and changing behaviour.