Editorial: The dynamics of sustainable, inclusive and equitable human settlements

Informal settlement upgrading, especially in the developing countries, is an important theme of this collection, and key considerations that shape how informal settlements are upgraded form a meaningful contribution to the discourse and practice. The shift from neglect and exclusion of informal housing typologies to upgrading and regularisation has gained prominence in different parts of the globe with the need for managing migration pressures that exacerbate the plight of the poor to access adequate human settlements. The access to relevant funding options for housing proves to be a hindrance for many low-income households to secure decent housing. Affordability of housing loans from banks remains out of reach for many poor households, and the need for governments and other developmental partners in the developing world to invest in a sustainable funding model to turn around this reality is great. This volume also argues that successful, inclusive and sustainable human settlements require the agency of social actors in the design and implementation of interventions. The importance of revisiting planning approaches and adopting the imperatives of transformation and decolonisation as a means of developing settlements that are people-owned, contextually relevant and enhance their aspirations.The employment of technology to enhance sustainable human settlements is emboldened with the utilisation of tools and approaches such as the Dignified Design Assessment Tool. Despite the difficulties of designing and developing sustainable housing that encourages healing and thriving, Dignified Design has become a popular and empirically backed method, particularly in the lowcost housing sector. Dignified Design is a methodology that promotes the health and well-being of permanent supportive housing (PSH) end users, acknowledging that modern living is stressful and that the built environment may play an important role in supporting psychological and somatic regulation.The growing climate-induced disasters such as floods have necessitated the need not only to address contributors to the problem such as greenhouse gas emissions but also to address the designing and enhancement of human settlements to be climate resilient. Advances in technology present a big opportunity to help communities to adapt to climate-friendly economic activities. These editorial underscores the need to balance the pursuit of economic growth with sustainability concerns.It can be drawn from the different contributions to this subject that a shift to sustainable, inclusive, and equitable human settlements is neither easy nor certain. Nonetheless, the scientific data, empirical case studies, and the lived experiences of communities around the world are increasingly illuminating new paths ahead. There is a collective responsibility for scholars, policymakers, practitioners, and community members to commit to these transitions with urgency, humility, and a firm commitment to justice. In doing so, we uphold not only our present commitments but also the rights and aspirations of future generations.