The issues of environmental protection and reduction of human impacts on natural assets constitute a particularly important topic nowadays. Numerous initiatives aim at reducing the emission of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants, ensure wildlife diversity, and stop the degradation of agricultural resources. It is necessary to admit that technological advancements required to mitigate the problem already exist, and the issue “is not about new gadgets but about new policies” (Parenti, 2013, para. 29). This implies that the costs of environmentally friendly processes and equipment turn the economic factors into the leading ones. Therefore, an identification of the direct ties between poverty and ecological problems and a review of some possible solutions are crucial for future sustainable development.
One of the most indicative areas where the environment is affected by substandard economic development is land degradation. According to recent research, the situation in this regard is worsening in many regions due to “food insecurity, vulnerability to climate change, and poverty” (Barbier & Hochard, 2018, p. 623). Low-income rural families usually have limited access to modern equipment and apply traditional technologies regardless of their environmental impacts. Moreover, they have very few land improvement and conservation options as they need to earn their living on a daily basis. Finally, such degradation can lead to a “potential downward spiral,” further aggravating the financial stance of poor households and intensifying their usage of the surrounding natural resources (Barbier & Hochard, 2018, p. 626). Therefore, the most efficient way to increase the efficiency of agriculture and reduce its environmental impacts is ensuring the overall economic growth in the relevant region. It should be combined with specific development strategies, which imply state funding for conservation technologies and modern equipment purchases. Directed at fighting poverty among rural households, such approach will undoubtedly increase land usage sustainability and lower its degradation rates.
Considering the factors connecting environmental problems to economic issues, it is also worth mentioning the effect of inequality. Initial research indicated that air pollution peaks with the average household income of about $8,000 and then gradually decreases (Boyce, 2018). However, the monetary aspects are not sufficient to explain all the issues. It has also been found that higher rates of inequality and corruption often lead to increased carbon emissions, elevated deforestation rates, and degraded protection of endangered species (Boyce, 2018). The most obvious explanation for this is that people feel unable to stand against the rich and protect their surroundings. Besides, they often underestimate the severity of environmental problems due to daily life demands. Based on these findings, an attractive solution was suggested concerning the application of fossil fuels (Boyce, 2019). It provides for the introduction of carbon dividends, which should be included in their price and then evenly distributed among the population. This economic incentive will create a direct connection between expenses and pollutant emissions, encouraging to increase production efficiency. This indicates the method that could be used to reduce inequality and enhance environmental sustainability.
The discussion provided above demonstrates a close relationship between poverty and various environmental issues. The inability of low-income households to enhance the efficiency of their activities leads to an intensified use of resources despite their possible degradation. Moreover, social inequality makes people helpless against the rich, depriving them of any capability to protect their environment. Therefore, reducing poverty and ensuring economic growth is a critical step for resolving the ecological problems, the acuteness of which is perfectly demonstrated by the continually growing number of natural disasters.
References
Barbier, E. B., & Hochard, J. P. (2018). Land degradation and poverty. Nature Sustainability, 1(11), 623-631. Web.
Boyce, J. K. (2018). How economic inequality harms the environment. Scientific American, 319(5), 73-77.
Boyce, J. K. (2019). The case for carbon dividends. John Wiley & Sons.
Parenti, C. (2013). A radical approach to the climate crisis. Dissent. Web.