Environmental humanities: an emerging field of transdisciplinary research

Abstract

Humanity is facing a global crisis that has been brought about by the domestication, exploitation and degradation of the natural environment. This crisis is closely interconnected with social structures and processes, and with cultural representations ‐ thus with history and politics, too. Therefore, historically, politically, aesthetically, and ethically reflective approaches that require the expertise of the humanities and social sciences are essential. This is precisely where the environmental humanities come into play, and in this paper, we outline their potential and their contribution to environmental research.