A brief historical background to the currently ascending interest in evolutionary and coevolutionary theory is sketched, and the concept of society-nature coevolution is positioned in this broader field. The significance of society-nature coevolutionary pathways for transition to sustainability is highlighted with Schellnhuber's heuristic 'theater world' for representing paradigms of sustainable development. Geography's recent re-engagement in the geographical experiment of keeping society and

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... ature under one conceptual umbrella is exemplified in the works of Hägerstrand and Harvey. This special issue's four contributions to developing society-nature coevolutionary theory are presented. The outlook these articles provide suggests that research into society-nature coevolution should play a key role in identifying physically, biologically and socially accessible pathways to sustainability. In order to keep the future accessible and navigable, we will need enhanced understanding of society-nature coevolution.