Réduire les inégalités et atteindre l’équité pour sauver la planète : par quel bout commencer ?

Abstract

We begin with inequalities: the health of the planet and humanity depends on our ability to reduce them. Inequalities lead societies into interrelated crises: environmental, climatic, energetic, agricultural, economic, social, and public health. While certain individuals and groups are disproportionately more affected than others, everyone at all levels of society suffer from negative impacts of inequalities. To improve our understanding of these inequalities, we focus on two main areas: the population and the way in which it consumes the planet; and adaptation to stresses, in particular those induced by socio-environmental problems caused by our global socio-economic system. Our contribution is twofold. First, the articles together highlight the need to better understand the complex sources of inequalities, which we group into four main categories: information; issues of power; good intentions for development and their adverse effects; and systemic questions, particularly those related to land. In addition, there is a need to understand the socio-environmental challenges that arise from inequalities, which are: those related to scientific knowledge; linked to dynamic nature of diverse situations; concern implementation of projects that aim to reduce inequalities; surrounding obstacles; and other challenges that involve issues of vulnerability and justice. Based on these understandings, our second contribution is the exploration of some solutions, examined from local, national, to global scales. Systemic solutions at different scales are integral to tackle inequalities, in order to achieve a more equitable and just world.

Keywords

• climate change
• vulnerability
• adaptation
• equity
• inequalities
• understanding challenges