Geodisplacement is the physical and emotional displacement of species in the ecological world as a result of climate change. ‘Geo’ refers to the geographical movement of species, and ‘displacement’ indicates a subversion of human normalcy such as permanent communities being uprooted or negative psychological impact of climate change. Bill McKibbens The End of Nature (1989) characterises the early onset of geodisplacement as humans begin to question the true nature of their positions and power in the ecological world.

McKibben’s The End of Nature was composed in the late 1980s, a time where anthropogenic warming was not entirely known of. McKibben aimed for shock value in order to provoke his audience into action. He shares the impact of human action on the ecological world, noting that “Now that we have changed the most basic forces around us, the noise of that chain saw will always be in the woods. We have changed the atmosphere, and that will change the weather.” (1121). The visceral sensory imagery of the physical desecration of the environment alludes to the fact that once humans begin to destroy the ecological world for their personal gain, they most likely won’t cease. McKibben goes on to say that due to climate change being set in motion, the way that humans interact with the environment has brought around extreme weather events; “The temperature and the rainfall are no longer to be entirely the work of some, separate, uncivilizable force, but instead in part a product of our habits, our economies, our ways of life.” (1121). Through human actions such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation and the alarming impacts of the meat farming industry, humankind has contributed to our own forthcoming physical geodisplacement.

As the effects of climate change worsen, the world population must begin to prepare itself for ecological disasters such as rising sea levels, wildfires, floods and droughts and the physical geodisplacement it will bring to citizens living in disaster prone areas. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has reported that impoverished communities are already experiencing the negative effects of climate change, as they lack the resources to adapt to the unwelcoming and hostile ecological terrains. An alarming number of 20 million people have already become geodisplaced climate refugees. They have left their communities due to reasons such as “the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, such as abnormally heavy rainfall, prolonged droughts, desertification, environmental degradation, or sea-level rise and cyclones” (UNHCR). Geodisplacement is expected to impact an estimated 1.2 billion people by 2050 (Jon Henley). McKibben states that “I like to walk in the outdoors not solely because the air is cleaner but because outdoors we venture into a sphere larger than ourselves.” (1125) This is a particularly relevant statement in terms of how large the ecological world around us is, and how oftentimes we can feel powerless against ecological disasters.

Emotional and psychological geodisplacement is a concept which impacts a vast amount of people. Many climate refugees and climate activists already feel a sense of geodisplacement as the people in positions of power often do not act until it is too late. McKibben notes “I saw a lot of sick trees. With the conifers, I suspected acid rain… and then there were the congressmen who couldn't bring themselves to do anything about it.” (1124). This is a direct reference to political inaction as a direct contributor to climate change. When the ecological world is dying around us as a result of our actions, unless we pressure the people in power, we, as a species will become increasingly geodisplaced. McKibben comments on the increasing unsettlement within the ecological world resulting in emotional unease; “Someone will bring a boat out for waterskiing… and then the whole experience changes, changes entirely. Instead of being able to forget everything but yourself… you must be alert, looking up every dozen strokes to see where the boat is, thinking about what you will do if it comes near.” (1122) This is a powerful metaphor alluding to the emotional geodisplacement that we are already experiencing as a result of fear. Society is increasingly fearful of how the results of climate change will impact us and our communities. We are constantly thinking; “Will it impact me? And if so, how?” The emotional and psychological impacts of geodisplacement are only just becoming evident - as we begin to see the true impacts of climate change, humankind will become increasingly displaced with their emotions. As McKibben says, “I had no more control, in one sense, over the process than I ever did. But it felt different, lonelier.” (1124). He alludes to the emotional segregation of humankind as emotions such as guilt, dejection and sadness take over.

Lastly, geodisplacement impacts all species, not just humans. As weather events become more extreme and unpredictable, animals habitats are being destroyed and they are becoming vulnerable to extinction. This form of geodisplacement is talked briefly about by McKibben as he refers to humans eradicating and genetically creating their own species of rabbit “what will it mean to come across a rabbit in the woods once genetically engineered "rabbits" are widespread?” (1126) he asks. The rhetorical question provokes a dialogue regarding animals and their place in the world. When humans cause them to go extinct, they will create their own. McKibben predicts that the end of nature will be dictated by humans becoming “"planetary managers" and the "genetic engineers” (1127). He notes that when humans forget about the endangered and extinct species, “The loss of memory will be the eternal loss of meaning.” (1127). He suggests that ultimately, humankind will have nothing to exist for.

Geodisplacement is a concept which refers to the physical displacement of climate refugees as a result of climate change. Geodisplacement also indicates the emotional and psychological displacement humans feel - these emotions can be composed up of guilt, loneliness, anxiety and depression due to factors of climate change. The animal species suffer from geodisplacement as they face loss of habitat, food and ultimately, extinction. Geodisplacement is a way to begin a dialogue regarding the displacement of species as a result of climate change.

Works Cited:

1. McKibben, Bill. The end of nature. Random House Incorporated, 2006.
2. Henley, Jon. “Climate crisis could displace 1.2bn people by 2050, report warns.” The Guardian, 9 Sep 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/09/climate-crisis-could-displace-12bn-people-by-2050-report-warns
3. “Climate change and disaster displacement.” The UN Refugee Agency, https://www.unhcr.org/en-au/climate-change-and-disasters.html