1. Environment, Poverty and Human Development: Exploring the Linkages Paolo Giuntarelli, Direttore Ente Regionale RomaNatura

2. A Vicious Circle? POVERTY ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION Brundtland Report 1990 - poverty as a major cause and effect of global environmental problems

3. Responding to environmental threats Demand for environmental quality... Demand for environmental quality... … is a luxury - the poor are too busy thinking about basic survival to concern themselves with environmental issues … is a luxury - the poor are too busy thinking about basic survival to concern themselves with environmental issues Ability to respond to such demands... Ability to respond to such demands... … is dependent on aggregate wealth - economic prosperity and technological sophistication allow nations to react to environmental challenges … is dependent on aggregate wealth - economic prosperity and technological sophistication allow nations to react to environmental challenges Ergo... Ergo... Environmentalism is the exclusive concern of the rich, in the advanced industrial nations Environmentalism is the exclusive concern of the rich, in the advanced industrial nations

4. Are these concerns exclusivel y found in rich nations? Understanding responses Out of concern for nature Out of concern for nature … as a source of cultural, spiritual, social and economic value... … as a source of cultural, spiritual, social and economic value... To mitigate anthropogenic influences on the natural environment To mitigate anthropogenic influences on the natural environment … pollution, resource depletion, extinction of species... … pollution, resource depletion, extinction of species... To reduce the impacts of environmental changes on human society To reduce the impacts of environmental changes on human society … health impacts, livelihoods, needs, well- being... … health impacts, livelihoods, needs, well- being...

5. Views on poverty-environment linkages Conventional wisdom Conventional wisdom – Deterministic relationship: if one is poor, then one degrades the environment – Poverty is negatively related to sustainable development - short time horizons of the poor – Policy: need for economic growth to break the downward spiral: World Bank WDR 1992 Environmental degradation Poverty

6. Alternative perspectives Political economy Political economy – Why are people poor? Poor as proximate causes, but (global) inequalities as the ultimate causes – Evidence that the poor can and do care for the environment: effective environmental stewardship – The poor as environmental activists: new social and ecological movements; grassroots political action – Policy - remove inequalities Environmental degradation Inequality (power, wealth)

7. Alternative perspectives Market/institutional failure Market/institutional failure – Price signals - perverse subsidies/taxes – Tenure policies/property rights – Legal framework – Implementation capacity – Competing policy demands – Policy – correct market/institutional failure Environmental degradation Policy imperfections

8. Alternative perspectives Reversing the causality Reversing the causality – Dependence of the poor on natural resources for their livelihoods: CPR studies – Impact of internal and external pressures is to undermine the sustainability of the local resource base – Policy - improved environmental sustainability as a poverty alleviation strategy Environmental degradation Poverty

9. Understanding human well-being Multiple dimensions of well-being Multiple dimensions of well-being – Physical/financial resources - wealth – Human resources - education, health – Natural resources - ecosystem services – Political resources - democracy, accountability – Social/cultural resources - networks, norms, relationships  SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS (SL)

10. Vulnerability Context Shocks Trends Seasons Livelihood Capital Assets Human Social Physical Financial Natural Livelihood Strategies Policies & Institutions (Transforming Structures & Processes) Structures - Government - Private Sector Processes - Laws - Policies - Culture - Institutions The SL Framework Livelihood Outcomes + Sustainable use of NR base + Income + Well-being Reduced vulnerability + Food security

11. It’s all about pushing out the ‘area’ of these assets Are these assets fungible? Human Capital Natural Capital Physical Capital Social Capital Financial Capital

12. Rural poverty - environment linkages Household objectives: food/livelihood security Available household assets: on-and off-farm physical/financial capital; natural resources; human capital; social capital Household income/investment activities Environmental/economic/social consequences New stock of household assets External factors

13. Ecosystem services Definition Definition – Ecosystem services are the conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that make them up, sustain and fulfil human life. Daily et al 1997 * Provisioning functions * Regulating functions * Enriching/cultural functions

14. Ecosystem services: provisioning Magnitude/rate of goods harvested (‘flows’), e.g.: Magnitude/rate of goods harvested (‘flows’), e.g.: Food Food Micro-organisms, plant and animal products Micro-organisms, plant and animal products Genetic material, biochemicals & pharmaceuticals Genetic material, biochemicals & pharmaceuticals Fuels/energy Fuels/energy Fodder Fodder Fibre Fibre Non-living material Non-living material Fresh water Fresh water

15. Ecosystem services: regulating Life support functions, determined by ‘stock’ of the ecosystem, e.g.: Life support functions, determined by ‘stock’ of the ecosystem, e.g.: Purification of air and water Purification of air and water Mitigation of floods and droughts Mitigation of floods and droughts Detoxification and decomposition of wastes Detoxification and decomposition of wastes Preservation of soil and soil fertility Preservation of soil and soil fertility Pollination of crops and vegetation Pollination of crops and vegetation Control of pests Control of pests Dispersal of seeds Dispersal of seeds Maintenance of biodiversity Maintenance of biodiversity Stabilisation of climate Stabilisation of climate

16. Ecosystem services: enriching/cultural Beliefs and values surrounding natural forces, providing spiritual/religious/cultural support (determined by ‘stock’), e.g.: Beliefs and values surrounding natural forces, providing spiritual/religious/cultural support (determined by ‘stock’), e.g.: Spiritual components Spiritual components Aesthetic values Aesthetic values Social relations and values Social relations and values Educational/scientific values Educational/scientific values

17. Ecosystem services: well-being issues Provisioning: access of the poor for basic needs; distributional issues Provisioning: access of the poor for basic needs; distributional issues Regulating: equitable sharing of benefits and costs associated with protection Regulating: equitable sharing of benefits and costs associated with protection Enriching/cultural: conflicting cognitive paradigms and value/moral systems Enriching/cultural: conflicting cognitive paradigms and value/moral systems Potential conflict between these services, but also scope for synergy/win-win scenarios

18. What is Human Development? The basic purpose of development is to enlarge people’s choices. In principle, these choices can be infinite and can change over time. The objective of development is to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives. The basic purpose of development is to enlarge people’s choices. In principle, these choices can be infinite and can change over time. The objective of development is to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives.

19. HD is not only the rise or fall of national income; HD is not only the rise or fall of national income; It’s about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. It’s about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. People are the real wealth of nations Fundamental to enlarging the people’s choices is building human capabilities – the range of things that people can do or be in life. Fundamental to enlarging the people’s choices is building human capabilities – the range of things that people can do or be in life.

20. Philosophers, economists and political leaders have long emphasized human wellbeing as the purpose, the end, of development. Philosophers, economists and political leaders have long emphasized human wellbeing as the purpose, the end, of development. Aristotle said in ancient Greece, “wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking, for it is merely useful for the sake of something else”. Aristotle said in ancient Greece, “wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking, for it is merely useful for the sake of something else”. The goal is human freedom Human development and human rights are mutually reinforcing, helping to secure the well-being and dignity of all people, building self-respect and the respect of others. Human development and human rights are mutually reinforcing, helping to secure the well-being and dignity of all people, building self-respect and the respect of others.

21. Human development report HDR was first launched in 1990 with the single goal of putting people back at the center of the development process in terms of economic debate, policy and advocacy; HDR was first launched in 1990 with the single goal of putting people back at the center of the development process in terms of economic debate, policy and advocacy; Since the first report, four new composite indices for HD have been developed – the human development index, the gender empowerment measure, and the human poverty index. Since the first report, four new composite indices for HD have been developed – the human development index, the gender empowerment measure, and the human poverty index. The HD report is an indipendent report. It’s commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme. The report is translated into more a dozen language and launched in more than 100 countries annually. The HD report is an indipendent report. It’s commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme. The report is translated into more a dozen language and launched in more than 100 countries annually.

22. Human development index The HDI is a summary measure of three dimensions of human development: leading a long and healthy life, measured by life expetancy at birth, being knowleadgeable, measured by literacy and school enrolment; and having a decent standard of living, measured by GDP per capita (gross domestic product =consumption+investment+exports-imports). Before the HDI itself is calculated, an index need to be created for each of these dimensions The HDI is a summary measure of three dimensions of human development: leading a long and healthy life, measured by life expetancy at birth, being knowleadgeable, measured by literacy and school enrolment; and having a decent standard of living, measured by GDP per capita (gross domestic product =consumption+investment+exports-imports). Before the HDI itself is calculated, an index need to be created for each of these dimensions