Reduce inequality within and among countries
Economic, social and political inequality are enduring and grave threats to societies. Income inequality is rising everywhere, while the number of refugees increased by 44 per cent between 2015 and 2021 and will hit a record high due to conflicts, including in Ukraine, and worsening environmental disasters.
Goal 10 and the environment
Mitigating the climate crisis and environmental disasters is key to reducing existing inequalities within and across countries. The wealthiest often contribute most to the problem but have a greater capacity to insulate themselves, while the poorest tend to be most reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods. Over 3.2 billion people suffer from ecosystem degradation, and at least 2 billion depend on the agricultural sector for their livelihoods, particularly rural populations.
People living in poverty, women, children and Indigenous Peoples bear the brunt of inequality. Yet Indigenous Peoples manage an estimated 28 per cent of Earth’s land mass, which accounts for 37 per cent of all ecologically intact landscapes. It is critical to ensure that Indigenous and local communities have stewardship of their land and receive support needed.
Adaptation financing must rise significantly to quell the triple planetary crisis and support those most vulnerable to its impacts. Only around 7 per cent of all climate finance is devoted to adaptation, but the UN is calling for this to rise to 50 per cent. With financing and policy support, we can prioritize environmental aspirations while move towards equality in all forms for all people.
UNEP’s work on Goal 10
Technological and economic development are critical to enabling human and environmental prosperity. Although much of this development is only possible when all stakeholders participate, benefits are unevenly distributed, with the top 1 per cent of people receiving more than double the income of the bottom 50 per cent. The climate crisis and environmental disasters exacerbate existing inequalities and disproportionately affect the poor and most vulnerable.
UNEP recognizes the enormous potential of the environment and nature-based solutions in reducing inequality. By promoting the sound management of natural resources and ecosystems and bolstering institutional capacity through education and funding, UNEP can help ensure equal opportunity and access to a healthy environment and other basic needs for all.
The "Early Warnings for All" initiative is a groundbreaking, UN-wide effort to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027. That is considered crucial for reducing inequalities, as the least fortunate often suffer the most from disasters.
UNEP has joined three other institutions (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in a global effort to support what is known as the One Health approach. This initiative aims to improve the well-being of humans, especially the least fortunate, animals and ecosystems.
World Environment Situation Room
This platform features openly accessible data on a range of environmental threats, from climate change to air pollution to biodiversity loss. Many of the perils it covers predominantly affect the least fortunate among us. The data helps inform policy making at the local, national and global levels, supporting the drive for sustainable development.
