Socio-Economic, Climatic and Ecological Transformation and Sustainability

This book provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary examination of the socio-economic, climatic, and ecological transformations shaping sustainability in a rapidly changing world. It integrates spatial, socio-economic, and environmental perspectives to explain how climate change, development processes, and human–environment interactions influence vulnerability, resilience, and sustainable pathways across regions. The volume addresses critical global and regional challenges, including socio-economic development, climate-induced risks, urban expansion, environmental degradation, and social vulnerability. Through empirically grounded chapters, the book investigates how economic development, technological change, policy frameworks, and ecological processes interact across space and time. A strong emphasis is placed on geospatial and spatio-temporal approaches, employing tools such as GIS, remote sensing, night-time lights data, spatial modeling, and vulnerability assessment techniques to generate evidence-based insights. Key topics include disaster impacts and flood fatalities, land-use and land-cover change, light pollution, climate–health vulnerability, carbon emissions, sustainable energy systems, nature-based solutions, climate-induced displacement, ecosystem services, and community-led sustainability initiatives. Case studies from India and comparative global contexts highlight regional diversity and offer actionable lessons for planning and policy. By integrating socio-economic analysis with geo-ecological and spatial evidence, the book meets the urgent need for holistic frameworks capable of addressing complex climate and sustainability challenges. The book bridges the gap between theory, empirical research, and policy application by providing interdisciplinary, data-driven perspectives that support socio-economic vulnerability management, climate resilience, sustainable development, and inclusive growth. This volume is particularly relevant in an era of accelerating urbanization, climate uncertainty, and growing environmental inequality. It is intended for students, researchers, academicians, planners, practitioners, and policymakers working in geography, environmental policy and studies, climate change studies, urban and regional planning, sustainable development, and GIS/remote sensing.