Rethinking Sustainability Under Siege: The Socio-Political Transformation of Environmental Practices in Gaza
Öz
Purpose – This study questions the common assumption in academic and policy debates that environmental sustainability is mainly achieved through post-conflict reconstruction, technological progress, and institutional interventions. Focusing on the Gaza Strip, it examines how environmental sustainability practices emerge under prolonged blockade and occupation. The study aims to demonstrate that sustainability in Gaza develops as a necessity-driven practice rather than a planned environmental strategy. Design/data/methodology – The research adopts a qualitative design based on document analysis. International reports, technical data, and academic literature published between 2010 and 2025 were systematically reviewed. The analysis is guided by the political ecology of siege framework, which allows environmental practices to be interpreted within broader political, economic, and infrastructural constraints. Findings – The findings show that environmental practices in Gaza arise not primarily from environmental awareness or formal sustainability policies, but from structural pressures such as enforced scarcity, infrastructural destruction, and political violence. Practices including material reuse, adaptive water management, and alternative energy solutions function as forms of everyday resilience that sustain daily life and community continuity. However, while these practices help mitigate immediate environmental and urban collapse, they do not resolve the structural conditions that produce these challenges. Originality/value – The article introduces the concept of “sustainability of necessity,” emphasizing sustainability as a survival strategy shaped by conflict conditions. By politicizing sustainability, the study contributes to political ecology and critical urban studies while drawing attention to the risk of depoliticized sustainability agendas and green colonialism.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Kaynakça
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Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Ekoloji, Sürdürülebilirlik ve Enerji
Bölüm
İnceleme Makalesi
Yazarlar
Sedat Çağlar
0000-0003-0223-7258
Türkiye
Yayımlanma Tarihi
30 Haziran 2026
Gönderilme Tarihi
6 Mart 2026
Kabul Tarihi
22 Haziran 2026
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Cilt: 4 Sayı: 1