IGDC members publish on equity, justice and sustainability in 2025

Posted on Thursday 30 October 2025

Members of IGDC have published 85 papers up to the end of October 2025, with an overarching focus on equity, justice, and sustainability in human–environment and human–health systems. Staff at York have explored how governance arrangements, institutional accountability, and socio-technical systems shape access to land, resources, and wellbeing, from informal urban settlements to global health and environmental policy. 

Studies on land markets, conservation, and ecosystem services trace the political and ecological dimensions of resource management, while research on mobility, energy, and air quality highlights the intersection of environmental change, urban governance, and social inequality. Health-focused work complements these environmental and governance perspectives by addressing disparities in access to healthcare, cost-effectiveness of interventions, and the psychosocial dimensions of care, particularly in low- and middle-income contexts. 

One central theme in these studies is how environmental degradation, poverty, and weak governance co-produce vulnerability — and how transdisciplinary approaches, participation, knowledge co-production, and responsible research and innovation can be key levers for transformative change. Collectively, the work of IGDC members contributes to an emerging paradigm that treats sustainability, health, and justice not as separate goals but as interconnected systems challenges—requiring inclusive governance, ethical science, and collaboration across disciplinary and cultural boundaries.