Identity and place as factors in the transistion to sustainability

Faced with global issues and rapid local change, we are challenged to find actions we can take to move towards an ecologically sustainable relationship between society and the environment. My proposition is that sense of self, sense of place, and their interdependence, are critical factors in making that transition. It is that interdependence – the relationship between these factors that I am particularly interested to explore. Within that very broad context, the scope of this research is to focus on how people’s sense of self and sense of place affect their experience of significant place changes. Emphasis will be on the role the relationship between these factors may play in developing resilience and belonging. Such qualities may be seen as critical to people’s sense of self, autonomy, and agency, and thus central to the quality of their relationship with the environment. The research will be qualitative, focused from an interdisciplinary, social ecology perspective in paradigms that are interpretive and critical, deeply examining several instrumental case studies with a view to contributing knowledge to support people when making significant transitions, particularly changes of place. In this context, today’s presentation will explore a quadrant model of possible characteristics of sense of self/place relationships.