Poverty Eradication through Environment Management 1

OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2025

This paper explores an integrated approach to poverty eradication aimed at sustainable development, highlighting the critical role of inclusive, community-driven strategies in addressing multi-dimensional poverty. Focusing on the socioeconomic and environmental challenges experienced by vulnerable communities, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, this study examines how tailored poverty alleviation strategies, supported by governmental and non-governmental entities, foster resilience and economic empowerment. Utilizing an analytical framework that incorporates sustainable livelihood models, microfinance, and community-based interventions, the study reveals that poverty alleviation is most effective when local needs and cultural dynamics guide policy formation. Findings indicate that approaches emphasizing gender-sensitive economic empowerment, sustainable agriculture, and environmental conservation substantially enhance poverty reduction outcomes. The study draws on recent case studies and empirical data to analyze the synergies between poverty eradication and sustainable resource management. Notably, financial inclusion and entrepreneurial support emerged as transformative elements, enabling marginalized populations to build resilience against economic shocks and environmental degradation. Despite the successes documented, challenges persist in scaling localized interventions to a national level, highlighting the need for continuous policy adaptation and crosssectoral collaboration. By emphasizing localized interventions, this research underscores the necessity of frameworks that bridge immediate poverty relief with long-term sustainability goals, ensuring that poverty eradication aligns with environmental resilience. This paper also addresses the limitations of current data collection systems and the complexity of measuring multidimensional poverty, suggesting that future research should incorporate qualitative assessments and longitudinal studies to enhance the effectiveness of poverty alleviation programs. The findings contribute to the discourse on sustainable development by identifying practical, culturally adaptive strategies that align poverty eradication efforts with environmental conservation, thereby offering a roadmap for policy innovation in the field of development studies. This study calls for increased investment in sustainable livelihoods, microfinance, and technology-driven solutions to support the world's poorest communities in achieving lasting economic stability and environmental sustainability.

2002

The environment-poverty nexus encompasses a variety of social and political as well as economic factors that obstruct the achievement of the MDGs. The nexus is also freighted by a number of myths that implicitly discriminate against the poor and threaten environmental sustainability, one of their major resources in today's world. In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) looked closely at the linkage between sustainable development and achieving the MDGs. If sustainable development can be defined as a development path and pattern in which the choices of the present generation are enlarged without restricting the choices of future generations, the concept implies three issues: • Enlargement of human choices at any point would depend on economic, political, social, institutional and environmental contexts. Thus sustainability encompasses more than environment. • The concept of sustainability is a dynamic intergenerational notion. • The abstract concept of sustainable development needs to be operationalised, which requires, among other things, measurable indicators and quantifiable targets, a framework for inter-temporal cost-benefit analysis. Development becomes sustainable if it is pursued on several fronts-the political, social, economic, and environmental. And it is the interaction of policies and outcomes in all these dimensions that makes sustainability real. • Political sustainability encompasses reproducibility of power structures and governance mechanisms, along with the evolution of institutions and the institutional framework that would carry out the tasks ensuring that the present generation maximises its choices but not at the cost of opportunities for future generations.

2005

First and for most, I would like to thank the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) for giving me the opportunity to participate in the Master's Programme. My many thanks goes to all the IIIEE staff. My deepest gratitude goes to all my supervisors: Prof. Don Huisinqh of IIIEE for his active involvement in my research work, his inspiration, his enthusiasm in reviewing my drafts, and his valuable comments and continuous encouragement; Associate Prof. Aleh Cherp of IIIEE for his expertise on the SDPRS and knowledge of developing nations, as well as for his insightful guidance and constructive feedback; Dr. Desta Mebratu of UNEP for his valuable inputs, knowledge of Ethiopia, provision of appropriate contacts in various institutions in Ethiopia and for providing me with an opportunity to participate in the workshop on development of programme for sustainable consumption and production along the Akaki River on 6 June 2005 at the Ghion Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.; and Dr. Kwadwo A. Tutu of UNECA for his worthwhile comments, continuous encouragement and provision of transport while I was in Addis Ababa to collect data. My special thanks goes to UNECA, especially Sustainable Development Division (SDD), for providing me office, supervisor, and being cooperative by writing a letter which allowed me to get documents from and conduct interviews in various governmental and non-governmental organisations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. My special thanks goes to all the Staff of the Sustainable Development Division of ECA, especially to Mr. Osmane Laye (Senior Human Settlement Officer), Ms. Sefanit Tessema (Administrative Assistant) and Mr. Josué Dioné (Director) for their continuous cooperation and encouragement throughout the thesis work. My gratefulness goes to UNEP for allowing Dr. Mebratu to be involved with my thesis. This thesis work also immensely benefited through the stimulating discussions with Dr. Strike Mkandla, UNEP Representative to AU, UNECA and Ethiopia. He provided me the necessary information and contacts' including MDG Secretariat, UNDP, UNIDO and ILRI, and my many thanks goes to him. This study could not have been successful without the valuable input of the various stakeholders in Ethiopia. I would like to express my gratitude to all the Ministries, NGOs,

The Human Sciences Research Council publishes a number of Occasional Papers series. These are designed to be quick, convenient vehicles for making timely contributions to debates, disseminating interim research findings and otherwise engaging with the broader research community. Publications in the various series are, in general, work-in-progress which may develop into journal articles, chapters in books or other final products. Authors invite comments and suggestions from readers.

2018

The final chapter in this Special Report assesses the knowledge on connections between sustainable development, poverty eradication, reducing inequalities, and pathways to limit global warming to 1.5°C above-preindustrial times. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development established a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that seek to end poverty and hunger; reduce inequalities; ensure health; education; sustainable energy; water and work for all; and foster sustainable cities, consumption, ecosystems. SDG13 focuses on urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. This chapter assesses the many ways in which the impacts of a 1.5°C warmer world, and the impacts of possible adaptation and mitigation responses, interact with efforts to achieve sustainable development and the SDGs. The chapter also explores the impacts of pursuing the SDGs on limiting warming to 1.5°C and on adaptive capacities, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. Finally, the chapter also assesses sustainable development pathways to 1.5°C, including climate-resilient development pathways that maximise synergies and minimise trade-offs between climate responses of mitigation and adaptation with sustainable development, especially poverty alleviation and reducing inequality. More research is needed to increase the confidence and breadth of understanding the specific links between limiting global warming to 1.5°C and achieving sustainable development, especially at the regional level. Without consideration for equity and fairness, and concerted efforts from all countries as well as individuals, communities, and organizations, the dual goal of limiting global warming by the end of the 21 st Century to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial times, including temperature overshoots along the way, and achieving the SDGs by 2030 and beyond, inclusive of poverty eradication, will be exceedingly difficult to reach (high confidence). Do Not Cite, Quote or Distribute 5-5 Total pages: 132 economic and cultural causes of vulnerability (high confidence). Adaptation will be important in a 1.5°C warmer world to counter the anticipated impacts on human and natural systems around the world. Ensuring livelihood security, poverty alleviation, equity, and inclusion, support effectively the design of adaptation strategies that lead to the achievement of the SDGs, for climatechange affected communities but also more broadly (high confidence) {5.3.1, 5.3.2}. The extent of synergies between sustainable development and adaptation goals will vary by the development process adopted for a particular SDG (high confidence) {5.3.1}. There is a high potential for synergies between adaptation options and several sustainable development objectives, notably response options that reduce vulnerabilities in a way to support poverty reduction, elimination of hunger, clean water, and health (very high confidence) {5.3.2}. Negative outcomes (or trade-offs) can potentially occur either in the form of maladaptation or adverse consequences of particular adaptation strategy; this includes instances when the costs of adaptation increase poverty and debt, agricultural adaptation competes with protecting biodiversity or overlooks the poor and women, the expanded use air conditioning increases emissions, ecosystem-based adaptations conflicts with local rights, and migration increases cultural tensions (high confidence) {5.3.2}. Adaptation pathways that use a mix of adaptation options and maximise synergies and minimise trade-offs with sustainable development are successful when they follow inclusive, deliberative, and place-specific processes and procedural justice mechanisms; yet, persistent uneven power structures that dominate decision making reinforce existing social inequalities (medium evidence, high agreement) {5.3.3}. Mitigation options compatible with 1.5°C warming can help meet sustainable development and the SDGs (synergies) but some generate negative consequences (trade-offs). Choices of mitigation options and policies will differentially affect people's lives and well-being, given different capacities and countries' positions on development trajectories. However, some of these risks can be reduced by policy designs and mechanisms at moderate cost (high confidence). The choice of the portfolio of mitigation options and the policy instruments that are used for implementation will largely determine the overall synergies and trade-offs of 1.5°C mitigation pathways for sustainable development (very high confidence) {5.4.1,5.4.3, Figure 5.4.1, 5.4.2}. Mitigation actions in the energy demand sectors and behavioural response options with appropriate management of rebound effects can advance multiple SDGs simultaneously, more so than energy supply side mitigation actions (very high confidence) {5.4.1, Table 5.1 a-c, Figure 5.4.1}. Mitigation options that show higher synergies with SDGs are those that emerge from cross-sectoral efforts at city scale; new sectoral organisations based on the circular economy concept such as zero waste, decarbonisation and dematerialisation; and multi-policy interventions that follow systemic approaches. These synergies require governance coordination across sectors and nations, and collaboration and dialogue across scales (medium evidence, high agreement) {5.4.1.4}. A number of mitigation interventions in the AFOLU sector could help to deliver the SDGs, such as sustainable and climate-smart land/agricultural management, the shift toward sustainable healthy diets and reduction of food waste. Forestry mitigation options including reducing deforestation, afforestation, climatesmart sustainable forest management and multipurpose systems for fibre, timber, and energy use-provide cost-effective measures and in many cases, negative emissions. Their appropriate design and implementation that take into account local people´s needs, biodiversity and other SD concerns can also provide large synergies with SDGs particularly within rural areas of developing countries (high confidence) {5.4.1.2, 5.4.1.5}. Mitigation pathways aiming at 1.5°C are in high synergies with health and air pollution. The nature of development patterns and the pursuit of sustainable development objectives affects the potential for ambitious mitigation and can reduce the social cost of reaching 1.5°C. Protection of oceans and marine ecosystems is a key enabler for ambitious mitigation, and the reduction of outdoor air pollution is a core motivation for public support for ambitious mitigation (medium evidence, high agreement) {5.4.1.5}. Economic growth and the reduction of inequalities can facilitate or hinder ambitious emission reductions depending on the strategy adopted to meet these sustainable development objectives (medium evidence, medium agreement) {5.4.1.4}. The rapid pace and magnitude of the required changes lead also to increased risks for trade-offs for a number of other sustainable development dimensions particularly risk of hunger, poverty, and basic needs, such as energy access. The negative impacts are more particularly for the poor populations without access to clean energy, employment and lead to overexploitation of some mineral resources required for renewable generation (medium confidence) {5.4.3, Figure 5.4.2}. Reducing these risks requires smart policy designs and mechanisms that shield the poor and redistribute the burden, so that the most vulnerable are not affected. Recent scenario analyses with focus on 1.5°C show that this is possible Second Order Draft Chapter 5 IPCC SR1.5 Do Not Cite, Quote or Distribute 5-6 Total pages: at relatively modest costs (high confidence) {5.4.3, Figure 5.4.2}. For example, cash transfers, food subsidies and improvements in yields can reduce trade-offs of land-use change and bioenergy deployment which may threaten food and water security, cause biodiversity loss and competition for land, spikes in food prices, and lead to disproportionate consequences upon poor and indigenous populations (high confidence). Delaying actions to reduce GHGs increases risks of cost escalations, stranded assets, job loss, reduced flexibility in future response options in the medium to long-term. These may have trade-offs that increase uneven distributional impacts between countries at different stages of development (medium evidence, high agreement) {5.4.2}. 1.5°C pathways that feature very low energy demand show pronounced positive effects across multiple SDGs (very high confidence). Low-carbon and zero-carbon energy sources serve the dual goals of mitigation and improved access to modern and affordable energy, which is fundamental to human well-being and contributes to poverty reduction. But these transitions must be handled carefully to avoid trade-offs with sustainable development, notably upon poor and indigenous populations. They depend upon radical socio-cultural and organizational innovation, which can create challenges for social acceptability. For example, more electrification of transport sector can lead to rise in electricity prices and can adversely affect poor unless pro-poor redistributive policies are in place. Road infrastructure and city expansion can lead to eviction, bio energy can lead to land disputes unless appropriate strategies are built into the projects (medium evidence, high agreement) {5.4.1.3, 5.4.2.2, Table 5.1}. Economies dependent upon fossil fuel-based energy generation and/or export revenue will be disproportionally affected by restriction on the use of fossil fuels necessary for ambitious climate goal despite multiple other sustainable development benefits. There is a need for supplementary policies, including retraining, to ease job losses and the effects of higher energy prices, particularly in countries where the workforce is largely semi or unskilled (very high confidence) {5.4.1.3}. While integrated approaches between mitigation, adaptation and sustainable development are possible, they will not...

Health, 2001

The article discusses factors that influence the preparation and responses in the general cycle of emergencies and disasters (environmental contexts, social, political, economic, cultural and institutional) integrating psychological, social and physical knowledge about sustainability, vulnerability and risks. The conflict between development, poverty, the environment and peace has become one of the biggest evidence of the human current difficulties. Mankind has not only of the achievements and benefits of development; but also, the undesirable effects produced by this, as social inequalities, poverty, environmental degradation and weakening of the sense of community, otherness and security. For Vieira (2005, p. 333) "harmonization of relationships that humans have with nature and the obstinate struggle by the pacification of relations between human beings constitute the two sides of the same coin." The idea of sustainable development has a chance to overcome the end envisioned. But there are those who preach the need for a paradigm shift in the concept. In today's society it is the eminence of unsustainability is global economic, social or environmental. A "cultural mutation" is necessary for sustainable development if organize around the following key relationships: with nature, with time, between citizens, and with the authority of the State. Pol (2002, p. 296) warns that, you can understand why sustainability, has "... a strong load of change of individual and social behavior and therefore requires knowledge of social and psychosocial processes involved." Thus, sustainable development requires action that can be called generically of participatory management and environmental education (awareness and availability of resources that lead to the development of habits and skills), to achieve shared social values from the formulation of plans and programmes aimed at changing behaviors and eradication of poverty.

European Journal of Sustainable Development, 2015

Poverty and hunger are the gravest challenges facing the African continent in the 21 st century. About One third of African population live below the United Nations poverty line of 1.5dollars per day .Most African governments are struggling with poverty, epidemics, hunger, famine, insurgency, domestic conflicts and poor governance of both human and abundant natural resources found in Africa. However, some African states are well endowed with human and natural resources but are equally enmeshed in wars, ethnic conflicts and resource curse. Majority of African population would prefer poverty eradication measure, at any cost, over environmental sustainability measures. This is because, hunger and epidemics face most Africa states with agonizing contempt .However, there is a genuine desire by most responsible African leaders and governments to eradicate poverty and to catch up with the developed west, with minimal cost to the environment. This desire, sometimes, brings these African States into collision course with not only their natural environment but also against some basic fundamental objectives of modern global institutional frameworks for sustainable economic development. Drawing from a socio-cultural perspective, and considering the level of poverty among some selected African states, this paper seeks to develop a mechanism for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability in Africa. The methodology includes a discourse on some selected African states against the background of their existing policies and legal frameworks on economic sustainability.The significance of this paper is that an understanding of the impacts of the socialcultural backgrounds of the economic and environmental sustainability practices in these selected African states, may throw more light on why there seems to be no meeting point in Africa, between environmental sustainability practices and poverty eradication measures in Africa. The paper will recommend ways on how this balance could be achieved.

Poverty and its alleviation: programmes, remedial …, 2005

2012

Payments for Environmental Services (PES) Programs can be useful policy instruments for achieving conservation objectives through incentive mechanisms. However, the success of such programs depends on the particular solutions that are given to political economy constraints and challenges. The Mexican case provides helpful lessons on this topic, in addition to design and implementation insights. The Mexican PES program has been in place since 2003. It strives to protect well-conserved forests and to have a social impact through payments made to the most marginalized communities. Nevertheless, its impact in terms of avoided deforestation is not very high. This is due to targeting failures that arise from an internal trade-off between social and conservation goals. In order to align both objectives the continuous negotiation of goals and targeting mechanisms between the different stakeholders: government, bureaucracy, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and local communities must be ke...

Environmental Governance in Latin America, 2016