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Poorer without It? The Neglected Role of the Natural Environment in Poverty and Wellbeing

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  • Judith Schleicher
  • Marije Schaafsma
  • Neil D. Burgess
  • Chris Sandbrook
  • Fiona Danks
  • Chris Cowie
  • Bhaskar Vira

Abstract

The relationship between sustainable development's prime goal, human wellbeing, and the natural environment has been narrowly conceived. This paper focuses on the possibility and the implications of treating the natural environment as a ‘constituent’, or internal element, of the concepts of wellbeing and poverty, as opposed to a ‘determinant’, or instrumental, external factor. Our review of philosophical accounts and conceptual frameworks of wellbeing and poverty suggests that treating the environment as a constituent element is philosophically sound, conceptually robust and empirically grounded. We argue that failing to consider these missing environmental aspects can result in an incomplete capturing of the multiple dimensions of wellbeing and poverty, and their underlying drivers. This broader framing of the environment–wellbeing relationship has the potential to inform a new generation of individual level wellbeing and poverty indicators, creating measures of multidimensional poverty that reflect the broadened scope ambitiously articulated in the Sustainable Development Goals. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Sustainable Development published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Suggested Citation

  • Judith Schleicher & Marije Schaafsma & Neil D. Burgess & Chris Sandbrook & Fiona Danks & Chris Cowie & Bhaskar Vira, 2018. "Poorer without It? The Neglected Role of the Natural Environment in Poverty and Wellbeing," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(1), pages 83-98, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:26:y:2018:i:1:p:83-98
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.1692
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    Cited by:

    1. Baloch, Muhammad Awais & Danish, & Khan, Salah Ud-Din & Ulucak, Zübeyde Şentürk, 2020. "Poverty and vulnerability of environmental degradation in Sub-Saharan African countries: what causes what?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 143-149.
    2. Li, Jiaxin & Wang, Zihan & Cheng, Xin & Shuai, Jing & Shuai, Chuanmin & Liu, Jing, 2020. "Has solar PV achieved the national poverty alleviation goals? Empirical evidence from the performances of 52 villages in rural China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    3. Miller, Daniel C. & Hajjar, Reem, 2020. "Forests as pathways to prosperity: Empirical insights and conceptual advances," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    4. Kibria, Abu SMG & Costanza, Robert & Soto, José R, 2022. "Modeling the complex associations of human wellbeing dimensions in a coupled human-natural system: In contexts of marginalized communities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 466(C).
    5. Valerie Møller & Michelle Cocks & Susanne Vetter, 2023. "Nature-Connectedness and Well-Being Experienced During Best and Worst Times of Life: A Case for Safeguarding Biocultural Diversity," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 165(3), pages 1053-1089, February.
    6. Yaowen Kou & Quanzhi Yuan & Xiangshou Dong & Shujun Li & Wei Deng & Ping Ren, 2023. "Dynamic Response and Adaptation of Grassland Ecosystems in the Three-River Headwaters Region under Changing Environment: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-30, February.
    7. Zhenshan Yang & Ding Yang & Dongqi Sun & Linsheng Zhong, 2023. "Ecological and social poverty traps: Complex interactions moving toward sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(2), pages 853-864, April.
    8. Cristina Bernini & Silvia Emili & Maria Rosaria Ferrante, 2023. "Poverty‐happiness nexus: Does the use of regional poverty lines matter?," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 102(2), pages 253-272, April.
    9. Guoxin Fu, 2021. "Toward achieving sustainable development goal 3: Determinants, innovations, and reactions from 110 countries with different income levels," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(4), pages 607-623, July.
    10. Ping Gao & Shenghe Liu & Wei Qi & Honggang Qi, 2020. "The Nexus between Poverty and the Environment: A Case Study of Lijiang, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-17, February.
    11. Marije Schaafsma & Ilda Dreoni & Lacour Mody Ayompe & Benis Egoh & Dewa Putu Ekayana & Arilson Favareto & Sonny Mumbunan & Louise Nakagawa & Jonas Ngouhouo‐poufoun & Marieke Sassen & Thiago Kanashiro , 2023. "A framework to understand the social impacts of agricultural trade," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 138-150, February.

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