Habitability in a connected, unequal, changing world

The document argues that current analyses of habitability often overlook socio-cultural aspects, power dynamics, and the connectedness of places. To address this, the authors propose a systemic, intersectional, and spatially relational approach to habitability, emphasizing the need for a research agenda that integrates local perspectives and considers the influence of powerful actors.

• The authors define habitability as an emergent property resulting from the interactions between people and the material and immaterial properties of a specific place.
• To move beyond purely environmental analysis, the authors identify four necessary axes for understanding habitability: a systemic approach to ecological, economic, and political processes; a focus on socio-cultural dimensions; an intersectionally differentiated view of social inequalities; and a spatially relational perspective on connections between distant places.
• An equitable research agenda on habitability should be characterized by methodological pluralism, the inclusion of local perspectives, and an engagement with the ethical questions regarding which powerful actors define the future of a place.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2024). Habitability in a connected, unequal, changing world. https://www.sei.org/publications/habitability-connected-unequal-changing-world/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Habitability in a connected, unequal, changing world. 2024. https://www.sei.org/publications/habitability-connected-unequal-changing-world/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Habitability in a connected, unequal, changing world |date=6 December 2024 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/habitability-connected-unequal-changing-world/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2024habitability, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Habitability in a connected, unequal, changing world}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/habitability-connected-unequal-changing-world/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }