Poverty and environmental issues can be extremely controversial at times. They both are often overwhelmed with political predisposition, religious platform, and passion filled people on either side of the argument. These issues have the ability to stir up such emotion that I thought it would be interesting to talk about them as a whole. You may have been told by your parents not to discuss such topics at the dinner table (Especially when Aunt Margaret and Uncle Bob are in town) due to the potential tension and arguments that could ensue, but I believe that we need to discuss the linkages between real issues in order to create sustainable solutions.

Like most things in life, we tend to compartmentalize.  At least I do. I like to deal with one problem at a time, figure it out, and then move on to the next. We are actually programmed to do life like this. For instance, if you work at a homeless shelter are you thinking about the natural environment? Probably not. You’re likely focused on how to provide services to a neglected and hurting population. Likewise, if you work as a Government Stormwater Coordinator are you thinking about how you can help assist people off the streets? Doubtful. You’re probably entrenched in meeting the new requirements of your Regional Stormwater Permit. The point is that it’s difficult for us to step back and see the bigger picture, or opportunities for synergy, when we are so ingrained in and focused on the “task,” or in this case, the job description.

When it comes to poverty and environmental issues we tend to separate the two. However, there are dozens of connections. In general, an impoverished person is less likely to be concerned with the natural environment. This is not because they don’t necessarily care about nature, but rather due to it being low on his priority list.  If you look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs pyramid, then it becomes clearer.  Caring for the environment doesn’t usually enter the picture until after one feels safe, cared for, and fed.  The point is that folks who are just trying to survive are going to focus more on their basic needs and less on their relationship and impact on the environment. This was never more apparent than when California Lutheran University and the City of Ventura teamed up to clean a mere 14 Ventura River bottom encampments(There are potentially hundreds of encampments). In about two hours time, volunteers grabbed over 10,000 lbs of trash.

Furthermore, impoverished people don’t have the means to properly dispose of their trash. They either don’t have the money and/or the semi-permanent residence where trash can be billed and collected. So what are the options? They can either create their own trash heap which contaminates the environment, or if they have some environmental concern, they can pack out their trash and illegally dump it in someone elses garbage bin which impacts a community’s quality of life. Either way there are negative consequences – especially if there is Hazardous Waste involved (i.e. paint, spray cans, chemicals).

I can’t discuss all the possible linkages in this short message, but I do think it’s important to quickly hit on the global implications. The poorer developing countries disproportionately depend on the environment for sustenance (i.e. farming) and are more susceptible to natural disasters and the effects of Climate Change. The UN has already taken notice and initiated partnerships between its Environmental Program (UNEP) and Development Program (UNDP). Together, UNEP and UNDP have created the Poverty-Environment Initiative, which offers governments the tools to incorporate poverty and environmental linkages into their development policies.

This concept is extremely important to consider on the global front. There are both environmental and social justice solutions embedded into the creation of a sustainable future. Many of the third world’s (poor) resources are consumed by first world (rich) markets. This is no secret. The BBC did a whole series on this several years ago. The injustice occurs not only because of the potential exploitation of cheap labor, but the third world country is left with the effects of environmental degradation without the means to rectify the issue. Not only that, but as resources tap-out, poorer countries lose the very ecosystems that they have depended on for so many years.

So what can you do?  Start where you are and expand your thinking . Here’s some small things to consider as you go about your own day: Do you see any linkages between what you and your fellow workers do? What are the connections that create  synergy for building greater solutions? Is there an environmental connection there? Is there a social connection there?

I would love to know.