The level of ecological degradation caused by human activities now presents such a risk of global instability that we have no choice but to rethink in depth the way our modern societies are organized. This requires not only transforming our lifestyles but also reassessing the structure of our sociotechnical systems and our spatial planning strategies. Doing so requires that the actors of sustainable development take into account in their reasoning and decision-making the human dimension, alon...

In 2008, the authors of a famous Science article proclaimed that climate change had rendered a fundamental societal assumption, that of ecological stationarity, to be “dead.” But adaptation to environmental change is not a new problem for our species. Indeed, some of the defining evolutionary moments of our species may have been times of environmental change. This talk will explore some of the pathways by which humans recognize and act on risks using case examples and other studies o...

A complete policy response to climate change, habitat destruction, plastic pollution, and other Anthropocene challenges requires action by governments, industries, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals. Attempts to drive change at the individual level often confront reactions like “Why should I bother altering my behavior? And if I do change, will my actions make a difference?” In this talk I discuss the drivers and predictors of individuals’ perceptions of the risk of climate change...