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Climate Lit

Topic: Interconnectedness

Interconnectedness (origin: collective)

Interconnectedness is a worldview that emphasizes the deep interdependence of everything on Earth. From animals to water to rocks to bacteria, our fates are inextricably intertwined. Interconnectedness understands the world as a set of systems in delicate balance with one another. It is the opposite of the belief that humans are separate from or above nature.

The concept of interconnectedness can be found in Indigenous and scientific discourses. It is an ancient concept and is fundamental to the Four R’s of Indigenous cultural values, first articulated by LaDonna Harris and Jacqueline Wasilewski through their inter-tribal work with Americans for Indian Opportunity in the 1980s and 1990s. These common values are based on the kinship of all Earthlings and our obligations to one another.

In Western science, interconnection can be seen within the feedback loops of ecosystems such as nutrient cycles, food webs, and microbiomes. The interdisciplinary field of systems sciences explores the complexity of systems in various settings, including nature, society, and the human body.

Although sometimes referred to by different terms (interdependence, dependence on nature), the concept of interconnectedness is seen by many climate justice and sustainability activists as the cornerstone of an ecological civilization. It is emphasized in the principles of the just transition collective, Climate Justice Alliance. It was promoted by Thich Nhat Hang, Vietnamese Buddhist leader and peace activist, in his book, Love Letter to the Earth. And it is an essential mindset shift Kate Raworth advocates for in Doughnut Economics.

©2024 ClimateLit (Nicki May)

Related Terms: Doughnut Economics, ecological civilization, fractal flourishing, human supremacy (antonym), ecocentrism, ecopsychology, industrial ecology, web of life, food webs, ecosystem services

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“I am fox! I go wherever I go!”

by Shaun Tan

“After all, dear beloved, I need you as much as you need me. And where could we live if not in the bottomless den or each other’s shadow?”

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Aquicorn Cove

by K. O'Neill

“I know our village is small, and we can only do small things to help the sea. But I still think we should do them. Even if other people are harming the reef, it doesn’t make it okay for us to as well.”

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Asha and the Spirit Bird

by Jasbinder Bilan

“I screw my eyes tightly closed, place my palms together and say a prayer . . . I hear the rushing water of the Ganges, the mountain winds whistling their way through the valleys of Moormanali and connect to the ancient rhythms of my ancestors.”

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AstroNuts Mission One: The Plant Planet

by Jon Scieszka

“So now it’s up to you to figure a way out. You can: a) Burn less fossil fuels or b) Find another planet with air and water and plants and animals, just like Me.”

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Bee Movie

by Simon J. Smith, Steve Hickner

“As a bee, honey’s pretty important to me. It’s important to all bees. We invented it. We make it. And we protect it with our lives.”

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Begin with a Bee

by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Liza Ketchum, Phyllis Root

“And here’s the wonder: her tiny body (not even an inch) holds everything she needs to create a whole colony of bees.”

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Berry Song

by Michaela Goade

“We take care of the land… as the land takes care of us. Gunalchéesh, I say giving thanks.”

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Big Tree

by Brian Selznick

“Merwin. All life is in danger. Remember, life began as a gift, and it must always be treated as such. No matter how unstoppable the danger seems, no matter how unavoidable, there’s always something you can do.”

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Braiding Sweetgrass

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

“Children hearing the Skywoman story from birth know in their bones the responsibility that flows between humans and the earth.”

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Chasing Coral

by Jeff Orlowski, Larissa Rhodes

“Most people stare up into space with wonder. Yet, we have this almost alien world on our own planet just teeming with life. But it’s a world people almost never explore.”

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Coral Reefs: A Journey Through an Aquatic World Full of Wonder

by Jason Chin

“With so many species living in such a small space, it’s no wonder coral reefs are called cities of the sea.”

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Daniel Finds a Poem

by Micha Archer

“On Tuesday, Daniel climbs the old oak tree. He sees Squirrel. ‘Squirrel, do you know what poetry is?’ ‘Poetry is when crisp leaves crunch,’ Squirrel tells him.”

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Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission

by Magic Pockets

“For thousands of years, our clan has protected the island’s ecosystem.”

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Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years

by Stacy McAnulty

“You can call me Planet Awesome.”

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Hatch Saves the Reef

by Judith Stutchbury

“I’m a baby loggerhead. Please help me. / Dim your lights so I can swim in the sea.”

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