Abstract

This article discusses how the notion of ‘catastrophe’ has evolved over time. Having examined the origins of the notion, it shows the transition from the desire to dominate nature in order to mitigate danger (the danger of a natural disaster), to enacting rational disaster-management strategies; then to implementing policies aimed at protection, prevention and risk management. However, in the Anthropocene, the nature of catastrophe has changed. Catastrophes are now characterised by threats on a planetary scale, systemic threats relating to social and eco-systems, and to long-term sustainability. The damage wrought is transcendental, affecting technology (chemical, nuclear, etc.), society (inequality) and the environment (climate, biodiversity, etc.). All these issues are converging, meaning we are now on the edge of a catastrophe such as the world has never seen.