Philosopher: Immediate climate action isn't enough; we must reshape our human identity

Philosopher Jonna Bornemark argues that while acting immediately on climate change is crucial, such efforts alone will not suffice. She believes that a fundamental shift in humanity's relationship with nature is required, suggesting that current approaches are deeply problematic.

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Yes, philosophy is complicit in our deeply problematic relationship with what we call nature. Therefore, we must dare to face our humanity and confront our anxiety about the climate crisis.

Bornemark contends that the Western cultural tendency to conceptually separate "humans" from "nature", viewing nature as something external, is a significant contributor to the environmental crisis. This linguistic and conceptual divide, she explains, prevents a holistic understanding and integration with the natural world. Even if technical solutions to climate change were found, the underlying issue of this problematic relationship would persist.

She emphasizes that the ongoing crises, including species extinction, pollution, and resource depletion, highlight this flawed relationship. Bornemark calls for confronting the existential anxiety associated with these challenges. She posits that becoming "human" in new ways, by facing the collective existential crisis with open eyes, is essential.

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In climate issues, we already know several ingredients: end our oil dependence, electrify and expand fossil-free electricity, and more. In issues like these, we should of course act immediately. But there is a great risk that this will not be enough or will be impossible to implement if we do not simultaneously reshape how we are humans.

Bornemark's perspective is presented as a response to another writer, Mats Söderlund, and is framed as an opinion piece. She acknowledges that solutions like ending oil dependency and electrifying infrastructure are known and should be acted upon swiftly. However, she stresses that these technical measures risk being impossible to implement or ultimately ineffective if not accompanied by a profound reshaping of how humans perceive themselves and their place within the broader ecosystem.

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Species extinction, poisons, and our consumption of the earth's resources show that the Western majority culture has cultivated a deeply problematic relationship with what we call nature.