This book presents selected papers from the International Geographical Union (IGU) Thematic Conference 2022, which was held at the Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh, India, November 24–25, 2022. The theme of the conference was Sustainability, Future Earth, and Humanities: Opportunities and Challenges. Focusing on the humanities, the book shares advanced research and innovative approaches that illuminate significant discoveries concerning integrated glocal (global-local) perspectives on sustainability.
The integration of humanities and glocal perspectives has become crucial to ensure a sustainable future for our planet. To achieve a thriving future, it is essential to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and human values, while acknowledging the interconnectedness of local and global dynamics. The humanities contribute a distinct dimension to sustainability by offering cultural, ethical, and historical insights. Glocal perspectives, on the other hand, underscore the interdependence of our planet's ecosystems and human societies. They advocate for a dual focus on local contexts and global implications, recognizing that environmental challenges such as climate change, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and pollution manifest differently in various regions due to diverse socio-economic, political, and cultural factors. The integration of the humanities and sustainability encourages a transformative shift towards more ethical and responsible behavior, fostering a sense of stewardship for the environment.
The book includes a wide range of topics, focusing extensively on the potential contributions of humanities towards the goal of long-term sustainability. The topics covered in this book encompass in-depth analyses of various subjects, such as environment and society, social dynamics, human development, urban landscape dynamics, rural-urban inequality, gender inequality, gender-environment relationships, entrepreneurship, public health, COVID-19 management and its spatiotemporal aspects, and geopolitics, among others. The book discusses both global and local perspectives on these important issues. Consequently, the knowledge and innovation presented in the book make a substantial academic contribution and facilitate to achieve sustainability, both at local and global levels.
