Ecological Peace and Character Strengths

There is a growing realization that the harm caused to Earth’s ecosystems from anthropogenic climate change and loss of species in part stems from humanity’s relationship with wider nature. This relationship is one that (perceptually) removes humans from the ecosystems within which they exist wherein nature becomes a resource to be controlled or exploited for humanity’s gain. There is a need to transcend this exploitative relationship to one that respects the intrinsic value and appreciates the strengths of the natural world irrespective of its perceived usefulness to humanity, so that humanity can coexist peacefully within a wider community of nature. This chapter explores the role of Ecological Peace, where our intentions, attitudes, and actions are refocused to move away from control or exploitation of nature to one based on interdependence with the wider natural world to which we belong. Character strengths are key to this and will be discussed in relation to the psychological construct of Nature Connectedness as a facilitator of Ecological Peace in reconnecting people with the more-than-human world to which they belong.