How does poverty in developing countries affect the environment?

This response varies greatly depending on the context, but in general, nations experiencing extreme poverty are unable to give environmental protections top priority.

When hunger, homelessness, and unemployment are all at an all-time high, nations tend to concentrate their efforts on programs meant to lower these numbers. These programs usually center around the creation of jobs, the construction of affordable housing, universal food distribution, access to clean drinking water, and other such programs.

However, this does not mean that environmental protections will automatically suffer; in fact, depending on the situation, they can be strengthened or weakened. Reducing poverty and preserving the environment do not have to conflict with one another.

It is possible to increase agricultural efforts, producing more food and jobs while sustainably caring for the environment; it is all very context-specific. For instance, efforts to combat poverty could focus on investing in renewable energy, creating new jobs. Or reducing reliance on international agricultural imports, which could mean increasing agricultural efforts within the country, which could lower hunger rates but contribute to habitat destruction.

Nevertheless, nations with lower rates of poverty also tend to be more environmentally friendly; this is also the case for nations that have experienced protracted or recent conflicts (for more information on this topic, see Scientific American's article on the top and bottom countries for the environment).

The cutting down of trees, bushes, and other food sources results in the deforestation of the environment. Many impoverished countries rely on wood for cooking energy.

Wealthier nations possess energy resources like electricity and natural gas. Renewable energy sources like solar and hydroelectric power can be used to generate electricity without harming the environment.

The majority of families in Swaziland, where I worked as a volunteer, used wood as a source of energy for cooking and warmth, which led to nearly total deforestation of the area.

Poverty in developing countries can lead to environmental degradation through activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, and reliance on unsustainable farming practices. Additionally, lack of access to clean energy sources may result in increased use of biomass fuels, contributing to air pollution and habitat destruction.