A Dynamic Collapse Concept for Climate Change

Steel, Daniel; Belotti, Giulia; Mittiga, Ross; Mintz-Woo, Kian

Abstract

Despite growing interest in risks of societal collapse due to anthropogenic climate change, there exists no consensus about how collapse should be understood. In this article, we critically examine existing definitions and argue that none adequately address the challenges for conceptualizing collapse that climate change presents. We therefore propose an alternative conception, which regards collapse as a reduction of collective capacity resulting in a pervasive and difficult-to-reverse loss of basic functionality. Our conception is dynamic in that it focuses on the interrelations of constituent subsystems. It also distinguishes collapse from transformations needed to address climate change and provides insight into the relationship between collapse and sustainability.

Citation

Steel, D., Belotti, G., Mittiga, R., & Mintz-Woo, K. (2024). A Dynamic Collapse Concept for Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.1177/09632719241255857

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 1, 2024
• Online Publication Date: May 24, 2024
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Dec 20, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 20, 2024
• Journal: Environmental Values
• Print ISSN: 09632719
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 606-625
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09632719241255857
• Keywords: Civilization collapse, climate catastrophe, climate collapse, climate ethics, climate justice, collective capacity, Florida, sustainability, state capacity, Small Island Developing States
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09632719241255857