Abstract:
This paper introduces the terms 'environmental capital' and 'sustainable habitus' as extensions of Bourdieu's theoretical concepts that are considered valuable in contributing to a sociological understanding of our environmental crisis. Without more individuals possessing a sustainable habitus, the personal actions deemed necessary to achieve environmental sustainability might not occur. The role education can play in informing a sustainable habitus in students through the acquisition of environmental capital is investigated, with reference to semi-structured interview data drawn from a case study of an effective educator for sustainable development. The relationships between environmental capital and Bourdieu's forms of capital are investigated within the context of the interview analysis. The interview is part of a larger data set produced in the context of a doctoral thesis. This paper demonstrates that the relevance of Bourdieu's social theory has not been exhausted. Indeed, the application of his theory to environmental sustainability indicates that the full potential of Bourdieu may yet to be determined.