Learning our way out: A conceptual framework for social-environmental learning

The global ecological crisis is the ultimate challenge to society's ability to learn. Traditional problem-solving approaches are inadequate to this challenge as they are based on the assumption that further development can solve the problems stemming from previous development programmes. This paper offers a rationale in support of these two propositions and proposes an alternative concept: social-environmental learning. An example of the actual application of this concept in the context of current issues of environment and development is described and the results are analyzed. The paper concludes with a conceptual framework within which further principles for social-environmental learning can be elaborated.