The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed every year on the 17th of October. The day was instituted by the United Nations in 1992 and each year, a theme is selected to guide celebrations and discussions. For the year 2020, the theme was “Acting Together to Achieve Social and Environmental Justice for All.”
Poverty Trends
The Covid-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on world economies, dipping per capita income in more than 90% of countries. This economic upheaval has added more than 115 million people to the global poverty statistics. The latest “Poverty and Shared Prosperity Report” from the World Bank estimates that the pandemic will push an additional 88 to 115 million people into extreme poverty in 2020 alone. By 2021, this number could rise to as many as 150 million people.
Beyond Income Poverty
India and Nigeria, two countries with the largest numbers of poor individuals, demonstrate that poverty is not only a matter of income. In these nations, many impoverished people reside in ecologically sensitive areas, compounding the challenges they face.
The Ecology of Poverty
In India, the poorest regions are typically forested areas in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh. Here, forests contribute up to 30% of total income for around 275 million people. This reliance on natural resources underscores the close link between poverty and ecological sustainability. A similar trend is observed in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh, making them, along with India and Democratic Republic of Congo, home to half of the world’s extreme poor.
Poverty and Forest Dependence
According to a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), over one billion individuals worldwide depend on forests for their livelihood, most of whom live in Asia and Africa. These people are often below the poverty line, demonstrating a direct link between poverty and reliance on natural resources.
The Geography of Poverty
Regional data reveals that over 85% of the world’s poor currently reside in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, a shift from 1990 when half were in East Asia and the Pacific. In these regions, degradation of natural resources accompanied by rapid urbanization exacerbates poverty.
Ecology and Entitlement
Ecology contributes significantly to global GDP but the cost to the environment is steep. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has reported a decrease in nature’s contributions to people since 1970. A study by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) found that while globally produced capital and human capital per head increased in 1992-2014, the value of natural capital per head declined by nearly 40%. This decline has contributed to increased poverty among those who depend on the environment for their livelihoods.
The Way Forward
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognise the importance of environmental protection in poverty eradication, with 86 out of 169 targets relating directly or indirectly to reducing environmental damage. With the deadline for eradicating poverty just ten years away, social and environmental justice must be at the heart of poverty eradication strategies. Given the growing impact of climate change and the pivotal role of ecology in poverty, emphasis should be placed on ensuring access to and entitlement of natural resources for marginalised populations.
Last Modified: February 9, 2024