Networks in equity and sustainability

Abstract

Some of the world's most pressing problems can be traced to inequity between people, both in the present and over time. Long periods of inequity can lead to both social and environmental degradation. In its 2011 Human Development Report (HDR), the United Nations incisively examines some of the complex relationships between socioeconomic equity and environmental sustainability. Members of the MIT Media Lab and The DuKode Studio created "Networks in Equity and Sustainability," a visualization tool that shows, via a network graph, how nations are multi-dimensionally linked. Examining linkages with this tool can illuminate potential partnerships between cultures. As the tool is expanded in the future, it will support intercultural discussions in the global effort for a world that is more equal today and more sustainable over time.