Learning from the past is a crucial element in the study of the relationships between society and the environment and how these relationships affect sustainability. The lessons learned from the past can be used to help create a successful path towards sustainability in the future.
The relationships between society and environment often are influenced by many departments of thought including:
- Values
- Institutions
- Social Capital
- Morals
- Ethics
- Power Dynamics
In looking through these different lenses, it is possible to piece together the historical roots of unsustainability and the consequential impacts on the environment.
In this section, the examples of Colonial Interactions in the United States and the Harp Seal Hunt have been used to offer an opportunity to learn from the past about sustainability. These examples can be accessed through the main menu or by using the following links: