Sustainable Socio-Economic and Environmental Dynamics in Divided Societies

Economic growth faces threats from environmental risks that intensify with rising population density and depletion of natural resources. People can either exploit these resources or manage them wisely for the benefit of their communities and future generations. They may choose to support economic development projects alongside environmental conservation initiatives, and decide where to live based on environmental conditions and economic prospects. The extent to which collaborative attitudes, social inclusion, awareness, and public participation can influence the equilibrium of complex socio-economic and environmental systems is only partially understood. Much of our knowledge stems from specific projects that facilitated popular participation. A complex model suggests that in a heterogeneous society where environmentally conscious consumers coexist with unaware ones, the strength of the conscientious group willing to invest in sustainable projects could determine the system's ultimate fate. Internal societal dynamics related to its composition may drive the socio-economic system and environment toward unexpected shifts and loops. The results highlight that sustainability transitions cannot be driven by economic or technological interventions alone.