Habitability for a connected, unequal and changing world

• The concept of habitability is gaining momentum in climate and environmental studies. • Present conceptualizations lack socio-cultural integration and local context. • Need for intersectionally and locally differentiated assessments of habitability. • Full understanding of habitability need to consider connectivity and tele-coupling. • Research should integrate diverse methodologies and local perspectives. 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.

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Publication Details

Journal
Global Environmental Change
Published
2024-11-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2024.102953
Citations
14
Primary Topic
Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
15.85

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Habitability for a connected, unequal and changing world

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Habitability for a connected, unequal and changing world

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

Abstract

• The concept of habitability is gaining momentum in climate and environmental studies. • Present conceptualizations lack socio-cultural integration and local context. • Need for intersectionally and locally differentiated assessments of habitability. • Full understanding of habitability need to consider connectivity and tele-coupling. • Research should integrate diverse methodologies and local perspectives. 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.

Global Environmental ChangeVol. 90
UNESCO (FR), Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo (BF), University of Vienna (AT), International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (AT), University of Ghana (GH), University of Liège (BE), Lund University (SE), Central European University (AT), University of Exeter (GB), Mali-Folkecenter (ML), Water Research Commission (ZA), Adelphi Research (DE), Institute for Sustainable Development (ET), Unité de Modélisation Mathématique et Informatique des Systèmes Complexes (FR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), Obafemi Awolowo University (NG), University of York (GB), University of Neuchâtel (CH), Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (DE), Cheikh Anta Diop University (SN), University of Lausanne (CH)
European Commission
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration
15.85
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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