Our time is running out.
Decades of climate science has proven the detrimental impacts of our way of living on the environment and its inhabitants. Our continued exploitative practices of our one shared home has shifted the balance away from a harmonious relationship with nature to an extractive business structure which deems capital value through resource extraction as the pinnacle of prosperity. Soon we could see the death of nature and the home of all living creatures as we continue to extract finite planetary resources; increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon through the exploitation of vulnerable people - who are already facing consequences of climate change.
The interrelation between capitalism's devastating influence on our relationships with each other and the planet are clear; the endless pursuit of economic growth - an indicator of a country's prosperity - is causing our planet to die.
It doesn't have to be this way.
To solve the climate crisis, we need to move away from our addiction to wealth accumulation and work towards a healthier, happier society, which values people and the planet over profit for the elite 1%.
This thesis explores ways in which we can improve our societies; aiming to celebrate nature and investigating how we can foster its beauty within our urban environments. Through the development of a post-capitalist feminist utopia, this new societal structure aims to be equitable to ensure all users can access flourishing lives by providing access to housing, employment, education, childcare, financial freedom, healthcare, food and water, safety and security and nature. This recognises that the world has more than enough resources to offer and can be shared equitably, rather than being concentrated in the hands of the few.
Implementing solutions from the current discourse, this thesis demonstrates how simple changes to society can have larger benefits for all - healing nature and ourselves in the process.
