Habitability for a connected, unequal and changing world

Autor(en)

Harald Sterly, Marion Borderon, Patrick Sakdapolrak, William Neil Adger, Ayansina Ayanlade, Alassane Bah, Julia Blocher, Suzy Blondin, Sidy Boly, Timothée Brochier, Loic Brüning, Simon Alexander Bunchuay-Peth, David O'Byrne, Ricardo Safra de Campos, Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, Florian Debève, Adrien Detges, Maria Franco-Gavonel, Claire Hathaway, Nikki Funke, Francois Gemenne, Flore Gubert, Eshetu Gurmu Feyissa, Rachel Keeton, Boonthida Ketsomboon, Marie Leroy, Nassim Majidi, Sergio Marchisio, Mumuni Abu, Sopon Naruchaikusol, Francesco Negozio, Hervé Nicolle, Gianfranco Nucera, Lennart Olsson, Jared Owuor, Pierre Ozer, Etienne Piguet, Diana Reckien, Sarah Redicker, Diogo Andreola Serraglio, Benjamin Sultan, Dennis Tänzler, Sara Vigil, Kira Vinke, Karim Zantout, Caroline Zickgraf

Abstrakt

As global climate change intensifies, the question of what makes a place habitable or uninhabitable is critical, particularly in the context of a potential future climate outside the realm of lived experience, and the possible concurrent redistribution of populations partly associated with such climatic shifts. The concept of habitability holds the potential for advancing the understanding of the societal consequences of climate change, as well as for integrating systemic understandings and rights-based approaches. However, most ways of analyzing habitability have shortcomings in terms of in-depth integration of socio-cultural aspects and human agency in shaping habitability, in failing to address spatial inequalities and power dynamics, and in an underemphasis of the connectedness of places. Here we elaborate habitability as an emergent property of the relations between people and a given place that results from people’s interactions with the material and immaterial properties of a place. From this, we identify four axes that are necessary to go beyond environmental changes, and to encompass socio-cultural, economic, and political dynamics: First the processes that influence habitability require a systemic approach, viewing habitability as an outcome of ecological, economic, and political processes. Second, the role of socio-cultural dimensions of habitability requires special consideration, given their own operational logics and functioning of social systems. Third, habitability is not the same for everyone, thus a comprehensive understanding of habitability requires an intersectionally differentiated view on social inequalities. Forth, the influence of external factors necessitates a spatially relational perspective on places in the context of their connections to distant places across scales. We identify key principles that should guide an equitable and responsible research agenda on habitability. Analysis should be based on disciplinary and methodological pluralism and the inclusion of local perspectives. Habitability action should integrate local perspectives with measures that go beyond purely subjective assessments. And habitability should consider the role of powerful actors, while staying engaged with ethical questions of who defines and enacts the future of any given place.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Geographie und Regionalforschung

Externe Organisation(en)

University of Exeter, Obafemi Awolowo University, Central European University Vienna, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung, University of Teacher Education, State of Vaud, Integrated Development Authority of the Liptako-Gourma Member States (ALG), Sorbonne Université, Université de Neuchâtel, Lund University, University of Ghana, Université de Liège, adelphi, York University, UNESCO, British High Commission Pretoria, Institut de recherche pour le développement, Addis Ababa University, University of Twente, Raks Thai Foundation , CARE France, Samuel Hall East Africa Ltd, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Université de Montpellier, Stockholm Environment Institute, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, University of York

Journal

Global Environmental Change

Band

90

ISSN

0959-3780

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2024.102953

Publikationsdatum

11-2024

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

509023 Entwicklungsforschung, 105205 Klimawandel, 504021 Migrationsforschung

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Geography, Planning and Development, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Global and Planetary Change, Ecology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 10 – Weniger Ungleichheiten, SDG 1 – Keine Armut, SDG 3 – Gesundheit und Wohlergehen, SDG 13 – Maßnahmen zum Klimaschutz

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/d84ae104-3d6d-4222-86d0-9539b03fa614