The Symbiocene as a transformative vision

We live in times of crises and calls for a transformative social‐ecological change are voiced increasingly often. The question is, however, how such a transformation could be achieved.

The prevailing view is that we are living in an era in which human activities significantly altered planet Earth: the Anthropocene. According to this narrative, humans are a very powerful force, turning the global situation for the worse.

It has been argued that this view can cause disillusion and frustration, thus hampering the willingness to change the situation. With this conceptual perspective piece, we explore the potential of the concept of a Symbiocene as a transformation vision able to stimulate action.

At the core of the concept, we see a call for renewed human–nature relationships, and we discuss how current changes in the conception of nature, humans and their relationships can be utilized as scaffoldings for the conception of a Symbiocene. We explore how to move from an economy‐centred thinking with degenerative environmental effects to a planet‐centred thinking with regenerative effects, and suggest that sensory‐triggered experiences, induced by interactions with nature and arts, are key for achieving this transition.