When Environmental Inequalities Lead to Social Inequalities!

Abstract

The state of natural environment often impacts human society. The degradation of Earth’s ecosystems due to anthropogenic dynamics has so far benefited economically only a minor proportion of humanity while making the majority more vulnerable. Those who consume and pollute less are often those who suffer more; a situation of inequality which is increasingly growing through the deepening of gaps between the rich and the poor. Decision making processes, in a desperate attempt to set the right balance when the political will exists, are often unable to find efficient and long-lasting solutions for these emerging issues, focusing instead on managing their related implications (poverty, displacement, conflicts, etc.). Therefore, the fight against inequalities is still at an early stage and achieving equality often requires breaking the wall and the adoption of unconventional conceptual, strategic, and operational frameworks. The viability and resilience of social-ecological system require that the ecological and social equality and equity should go in the same direction, unlike current dynamics. Thus, is it currently possible to develop in the future a trend where individuals, communities, and countries reduce, on a voluntary basis, their unsustainable environmental practices – such as the overuse and degradation of non-renewable natural resources – on behalf of a viable and resilient social-ecological system where environmental and social equality is ensured? The answer to this dilemma may evoke the need to make transformative changes and enhance both the efficiency and effectiveness of our actions. Currently, the prevailing strategies are limited to the protection and survival of Earth’s ecosystems, often with insufficient outcomes. This chapter analyzes these dynamics and linkages while focusing of their social dimensions and environmental justice. The analysis value the need to achieve a balance which has the potential to enhance both the environmental and social sustainability.