1. World problems
  2. Environmental poverty

Environmental poverty

  • Overuse of environmental resources by the poor
  • Environmental impoverishment due to misplaced aid

Nature

Environmental poverty is a condition in which people are forced to deplete resources and degrade environments, because they have such limited opportunities to change their economic behaviour. It becomes economically "rational" for them to destroy their resources, even though they themselves will bear much of the costs of doing so. Their impoverishment of their environment further impoverishes them, making their survival even more difficult and uncertain. Thus they are unable to respond adaptively to external change (such as drought). In addition, the prosperity attained in some parts of the world is often precarious, as it has been secured through farming, forestry and industrial practices that bring profit and progress over the short term only.

Environmental impoverishment is both a symptom of lack of development and a consequence of unsustainable development. It is both cause and consequence of unsustainable rates of population growth, as well as being the main agent of land degradation in developing countries.

Incidence

In many parts of the world poor people are forced to overuse environmental resources to survive from day to day. According to environmental consultant Norman Myers, such people have no option but to over-exploit environmental resource stocks in order to survive -- for example, by increasingly encroaching onto tropical forests among other low-potential lands. These poorest of the poor are causing as much natural-resource depletion as the other three billion developing-world people put together.

In many parts of the developing world, poverty combined with rapid population growth is leading to widespread degradation of renewable resources - primarily forests, soils and water. People living in subsistence economies are faced with few alternatives to depleting their natural resources. Renewable resources still sustain the livelihood of nearly one-third of the world's population; environmental deterioration therefore directly reduces living standards and prospects for economic improvement among rural peoples. At the same time, rapid urbanization and industrialization in many developing countries are creating high levels of air and water pollution, which often hit the poor hardest. Worldwide, the urban poor tend to live in neglected neighbourhoods, enduring pollution, waste dumping and ill health, but lacking the political influence to effect improvements.

Claim

Environmental poverty is a critical issue that cannot be ignored. It perpetuates cycles of inequality, as marginalized communities suffer the most from pollution, lack of access to clean water, and climate change impacts. This injustice not only threatens their health and livelihoods but also undermines global efforts for sustainability. Addressing environmental poverty is essential for achieving social equity and protecting our planet. We must prioritize this urgent problem to ensure a just and sustainable future for all.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Counter-claim

Environmental poverty is often overstated; it distracts from more pressing issues like economic growth and technological advancement. Focusing on environmental concerns diverts resources from essential development projects that can lift communities out of poverty. People need jobs and infrastructure, not guilt over environmental issues. Prioritizing economic stability will naturally lead to better environmental practices as societies become more prosperous. Let’s concentrate on real solutions rather than getting bogged down in the abstract concept of environmental poverty.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Broader

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Strategy

Value

Poverty
Yet to rate
Impoverishment
Yet to rate
Displacement
Yet to rate
Aid
Yet to rate
Abuse
Yet to rate

Reference

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #7: Affordable and Clean EnergySustainable Development Goal #8: Decent Work and Economic GrowthSustainable Development Goal #10: Reduced InequalitySustainable Development Goal #15: Life on Land

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(D) Detailed problems
Biological classification
N/A
Subject
  • Development » Aid
  • Environment » Environment
  • Resources » Resources
  • Society » Disadvantaged
  • Content quality
    Presentable
     Presentable
    Language
    English
    1A4N
    D5261
    DOCID
    11452610
    D7NID
    140148
    Last update
    Oct 4, 2020