Sublime

Seminal biologist Edward O Wilson has written on his “Half Earth” proposal, an “achievable plan” to stave off mass extinction by devoting half the surface of the earth completely to nature.

While the period of this study covers the last hundred years or so, I range back in time to better understand these responses in our present moment that is characterized by three global changes: (1) the rise of non-Western powers; (2) the loss of authoritative sources of transcendence (e.g., Marxism or religion); and (3) the looming crisis of plane

theologian Thomas Berry, this model identifies the anthropocentric bias of existing legal structures as it seeks more equitable remedies for both people and ecosystems. The Center for Earth Jurisprudence

Although Guha later came to regard his own version of environmentalism to be similarly chauvinistic, his work triggered major debates in environmental studies, which remain with us today.

In modern Asia, the mainstream obsession with pursuing the goal of controlling and manipulating nature has not provided us with too many helpful examples of efforts to realize alternative goals.

The doyen of Indian environmental history, Ramachandra Guha, observes that since the strongest forces of environmental destruction lie not in premodern societies nor in religions – whatever they may say or do – it follows that the relationship between religion and environmentalism will be tested only after industrialization has proceeded.