Environment, ‎Geographical ‎Space, ‎and ‎Sustainability: ‎The ‎Geographer’s ‎Mission ‎in ‎a ‎Politicized ‎World

Editor-in-Chief Lecture

Author

‎Department ‎of ‎Geography, ‎Faculty ‎of ‎Literature ‎and ‎Humanities, ‎Razi ‎University, ‎Kermanshah, ‎Iran. Department ‎of ‎Geography ‎and ‎Environmental ‎Sustainability, ‎Environmental ‎Research ‎Center, ‎Razi ‎University, ‎Kermanshah, ‎Iran. ‎

Abstract

The environment, as the foundation of both human and non-human life, encompasses three main dimensions: physical, ecological, and socio-economic. Geography, by conceptualizing the environment as “geographical space,” analyzes the spatial relationships between natural and human elements and offers pathways for sustainable management. Environmental sustainability emphasizes the balance among economic growth, social welfare, and ecological protection. However, the experience of many developing countries, including Iran, demonstrates that politicization and weak governance hinder these goals and have led to severe environmental crises. This editorial underscores that the contemporary mission of geographers extends beyond producing environmental knowledge; a committed geographer must critically examine the dependency of social and environmental systems on political structures and steer research toward evidence-based decision-making, community participation, and integrated analysis of environmental interactions. The future of sustainability depends on fulfilling this scientific and social responsibility.
 
 

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References

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