Political ecology: past, present, and future

Abstract Political ecology examines the interconnectedness of social, political, and ecological processes, offering critical insights into power dynamics, environmental governance, justice, and inequality. We examine the discipline of political ecology and its relevance in understanding the impacts of environmental changes, economic and colonial exploitation, and socioeconomic inequalities. We present an in-depth critical analysis of key debates and themes in contemporary political ecology: decolonial approaches and inclusion of Indigenous knowledge, climate justice and uneven distribution of climate vulnerabilities, posthumanism and more-than-human governance, and Anthropocene and Capitalocene. This paper discusses the economic drivers and structural solutions to climate adaptation. By highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of political ecology, this study illustrates how recent advancements in the field contribute to the development of more equitable environmental governance and global sustainability initiatives. The study discusses the implications and future directions of political ecology, emphasising the need to decolonise the field, address intersecting social categories, apply Indigenous knowledge and knowledge co-production, engage with environmental justice movements, and critically examine AI-mediated climate governance and decision-making.