This paper investigates how Henri Lefebvre’s rhythmanalysis can provide a transformative framework for Environmental Education (EE) in addressing the socio-environmental crises of the Anthropocene. Drawing on Lefebvre’s Elements of Rhythmanalysis (2021), Isabelle Stengers’ In the Time of Catastrophes (2015), and Hartmut Rosa’s Alienation and Acceleration (2022), the study examines the tensions between natural rhythms and the accelerated temporalities imposed by neoliberal capitalism. It argues that rhythmanalysis reveals the socio-temporal dimensions of environmental degradation and justice, offering innovative pathways to critical address human and ecological systems.

This approach is particularly relevant to ECER’s Network 30, which focuses on sustainability and environmental education in a world increasingly shaped by complex interdependencies. The proposal engages directly with the network’s emphasis on justice, transformation, and critical perspectives, addressing questions such as: How can  environmental education challenge the dissonance between natural and imposed rhythms?

Henri Lefebvre’s concept of polyrhythmia is central to this investigation, as it highlights the coexistence of diverse rhythms that sustain life. When these rhythms are disrupted by socio-economic systems prioritizing efficiency and profit, as Stengers (2015) observes in her analysis of “catastrophes,” the result is often environmental degradation and social inequality. For example, the Rio Grande do Sul floods of 2024 in south Brazil, which affected over 2 million people, illustrate how climate crises disproportionately impact marginalized communities, as documented by Rückert (2024) and Sul21 media (2024). These events underscore the need for educational practices that critically engage with the temporal dynamics of such catastrophes.

Moreover, the study incorporates Hartmut Rosa’s (2022) insights on acceleration and alienation, which describe how modern temporalities contribute to a sense of disconnection from natural and social rhythms. Rosa argues that this “compression of time” exacerbates crises by prioritizing short-term gains over long-term sustainability. By integrating these perspectives, this research situates rhythmanalysis as a vital tool for understanding and addressing the socio-environmental injustices of the Anthropocene.

Through this theoretical lens, the paper aligns with the ECER Network 30’s call for educational innovation in addressing the complexities of the Anthropocene. By emphasizing the role of rhythms in shaping socio-environmental relations, the study advocates for a paradigm shift in Environmental Education, moving beyond individual behavioral change to address systemic temporal dissonances.

The research employs a qualitative methodology that integrates documentary analysis, bibliographic review, and rhythmanalysis as a theoretical and methodological framework. This combination ensures a comprehensive approach to understanding the temporal dimensions of socio-environmental crises. The study begins with a detailed examination of primary sources related to rhythmanalysis, particularly the works of Lúcio Pinheiro dos Santos, a precursor to Henri Lefebvre. As highlighted by Dias (2018), Pinheiro dos Santos’ contributions laid the groundwork for Lefebvre’s later developments in rhythmanalysis. The analysis extends to Lefebvre’s Elements of Rhythmanalysis (2021), which explores the coexistence of rhythms within urban and natural environments. Secondary literature, including works by Stengers (2015) and Rosa (2022), provides critical insights into the socio-temporal dynamics of crises. Rhythmanalysis itself is employed as a methodological tool, allowing the researcher to observe, describe, and interpret the interplay of rhythms in specific socio-environmental contexts. Following Martins and Moreaux’s (2021) adaptation of Lefebvre’s approach, this study focuses on the coexistence of cyclic (natural) and linear (social) rhythms. Lefebvre’s notion of “polyrhythmia” is applied to analyze how these rhythms are disrupted by crises such as climate disasters and pandemics. For example, the Rio Grande do Sul floods and the COVID-19 pandemic serve as case studies to explore how neoliberal temporalities exacerbate socio-environmental inequalities. As Safatle et al. (2021) argue, neoliberalism imposes rhythms that prioritize productivity at the expense of individual and collective well-being, creating what Lefebvre (2021) describes as “arrhythmia.” This methodological focus on rhythms provides a unique lens for understanding the temporal dimensions of environmental injustice. By combining documentary analysis, bibliographic review, and rhythmanalysis, the research bridges theoretical and practical dimensions, offering innovative insights into the role of rhythms in Environmental Education. This approach aligns with the ECER Network 30’s emphasis on interdisciplinary and justice-oriented methodologies.

This paper demonstrates that rhythmanalysis offers a transformative framework for Environmental Education, particularly in addressing the socio-environmental crises of the Anthropocene. By examining the temporal and rhythmic dimensions of these crises, the study highlights the dissonance between natural and imposed rhythms as a key driver of environmental degradation and social inequality. The findings underscore the critical role of rhythmanalysis in fostering resilience and justice. By harmonizing human and ecological rhythms, Environmental Education can challenge the neoliberal temporalities that prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability. This approach not only critiques existing systems but also envisions alternative futures that are attuned to the rhythms of life. Aligned with the ECER Network 30’s goals, this research calls for a paradigm shift in Environmental Education. It advocates for educational practices that engage with the complexities of the Anthropocene, emphasizing the importance of temporal awareness in promoting sustainability and justice. As Stengers (2015) suggests, confronting the “time of catastrophes” requires innovative approaches that bridge the natural and social dimensions of crises. Rhythmanalysis, with its focus on polyrhythmia and arrhythmia, provides a critical lens for achieving this vision.

DIAS, Geraldo. Nietzsche, precursor da Ritmanálise? A recepção luso-brasileira do pensamento nietzschiano pelo Filósofo fantasma Lúcio Pinheiro dos Santos. TRÁGICA: Estudos de Filosofia da Imanência, v. 11, n. 3, 2018. LEFEBVRE, Henri. Elementos de ritmanálise: e outros ensaios sobre temporalidades. Trad. Flávia Martins e Michel Moreaux. Rio de Janeiro: Consequência, 2021. ROSA, Hartmut. Alienação e aceleração: por uma teoria crítica da temporalidade tardomoderna. Editora Vozes, 2022. RÜCKERT, Aldomar A. VICENTE, Francisco Jorge; GOMES, Luis Fabiano R. A Tragédia Climática No Rio Grande Do Sul Em 2024. Anotações Sobre Uma Catástrofe Anunciada. SAFATLE, Vladimir; DA SILVA JUNIOR, Nelson; DUNKER, Christian. Neoliberalismo como gestão do sofrimento psíquico. Autêntica Editora, 2021. STENGERS, Isabelle. No tempo das catástrofes: resistir à barbárie que se aproxima. São Paulo: Cosac Naify, p. 203, 2015. VELLEDA, Luciano. Bairros pobres foram os mais atingidos pela enchente na Capital e na região metropolitana. Sul21. Publicado em: 15/05/2024. Disponível em: https://sul21.com.br/noticias/geral/2024/05/bairros-pobres-foram-os-mais-atingidos-pelaenchente-na-capital-e-regiao-metropolitana