Southern Transitions. Facing climate change and ecological degradation in the Global South

Abstract

The ecological transition represents one of the most complex and urgent challenges of our time. Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and environmental degradation are severe consequences of a socioeconomic system in need of a radical rethinking. Although this is a matter of global significance, profound imbalances exist between the Global North and the Global South in terms of both impacts and responsibilities. This issue of Contesti, curated by LabPSM – Laboratory on City and Territory in the Global South at the University of Florence, aims to contribute to the debate on approaches, methods, and best practices for addressing the complex challenges of transition in Global South contexts. The collected articles reflect this complexity, engaging with diverse places and themes, yet sharing a common postcolonial and situated perspective in their analysis of urban phenomena.