UNIT SEVEN Rapid environmental change (land degradation, resource

depletion & air pollution)

Biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, species contraction,
7.1.1 Population Growth-Related Challenges in the Extended urbanization (expansion of slums and squatter
Developing Countries (DCs) and Remedial settlements in urban areas),
The population growth-related challenges Chronic poverty and malnutrition (food insecurity and water
Higher population growth rates in the more developed countries scarcity),
(MDCs) were reached many years ago. The natural growth rates
have been continuously declining in those countries for Health and related problems (poor health which likely results in
numerous decades. Nevertheless, the highest population growth higher rates of mortality),
is predicted to happen in the DCs. This will probably worsen Lack of better education,
the poverty levels in those countries. The situation could add Increased rural-urban migration,
stress on the basic economic and social services like health, Housing and shelter shortages,
education, and the environment in the DCs. From the DCs, sub- Inequality and marginalization,
Saharan Africa (SSA) will face the most rapid rate of population Climate change and related hazards, and
growth in the coming decades coming. Transportation shortages.
Most rapid population increases during the coming decades are NOTE:
also assumed to occur in urban areas (in cities & towns) of the Resource distribution, polarization, and marginalization are
DCs. The increased urban population often comes with more among the acute problems facing DCs currently. For instance,
challenges and prospects. only 5% of the world’s population enjoys 23% of the world’s
Generally, population pressure and rapid urbanization in the energy supply. Conversely, 40% of the world population has no
DCs would probably result in severe socioeconomic and access to suitable hygiene services. Another 1.2 billion people
environmental challenges. For instance, it can result in: lack basic facilities at all.
The remedial measures
The following are the promising strategies to solve the Changing fertility patterns: through girls’ and women’s
challenges posed by growing populations in the DCs (i.e. to education; accessing reproductive health services,
bring population dynamics into the development agenda): Equal opportunity for citizens: fair access to employment, and
socioeconomic benefits.
Ensuring appropriate investment in human capital throughout 7.1.2 Family Size, Education, and Income of Families
the life course of citizens to realize the dividends of the Family refers to members of households who have kinship or
demographic transitions (e.g. better education, employment, blood relationships and/or those bound together through
and health services), marriage. It includes all related individuals (parents, children,
Promoting healthy aging and economic well-being in old age: aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.). Family covers;
providing enabling and supportive environment to the old age Married couples without children,
group to integrate them into the development process, a married couple with one or more unmarried children,
Sustainable urban planning for growing populations: ensuring One parent with one or more unmarried children -
appropriate infrastructure (education, health & similar representing the concept of a "nuclear family”.
services), Household: refers to groups of persons who are living together
Giving special attention to vulnerable populations: enhancing and make common supplies of food, shelter, and other essentials
the adaptive capacity of people affected by droughts, famines, required for living. It may comprise people with no blood or
and climate change hazards, marriage relationships but share similar shelter or housing units.
Ensuring international negotiations and collaborations on A household may comprise other than one family. It can consist
migration among source and destination countries, of one or more than one non-related person, or exclusively of
Consolidation of rural-urban relations via sustainable non-related individuals.
integrative development planning, Yet, a family cannot embrace more than one household. The
Diagnosing the diversity of demographic situations and their household is generally the principal unit in society. Choices
varied implications, concerning childbearing, education, healthcare, living
engagements, division of labor, saving and even migration are childbearing, education, healthcare, expenditure urgencies, and
often decided at household scales. consumption arrangements.
Worldwide mean household numbers range from 2 to 9 persons.
Basic household types can include: The minimum and maximum sizes range from less than 3
a single person household: comprise only one member, individuals per household in Europe and North America to
Couple only household: comprise married or in- greater than 5 individuals per household in Africa and the
partnership couple only, Middle East, respectively. Please note that the size of
Couple with children household: holds married or in- households can differ with the conditions of fertility and
partnership couple and their children only, marriage; permanency and mobility; ‘home-living among
Single parent with children household: comprise a single young people’; occupation patterns; local culture and norms,
parent and children, and migration.
Extended-family household: comprise all members that
are related to each other plus one or more members Increased size of children (age 5-14 years) conveys extra load
outside of the nuclear family unit, to households in the DCs. Households with large family sizes in
Non-relative household: include at least one member those countries are forced to pay more money for schools and
who is not related to the head. teachers; and the purchase of educational materials. This may
The couple-only, couple-with-children, and single-par-ent-with-children influence the quality of education. Countries with higher levels
configurations are each example of households in which all members of births are liable to have higher levels of illiteracy among girls
belong to the same nuclear family unit.
(aged 15–24 years) than those countries with intermediate birth
rates.
Household composition refers to the description of households
Multi-generational households belong to housing units hosting
based on age, relation to the head, number of marital pairs, or
co-residence of families of three or more generations. Such
nuclear families it holds. It has a significant influence on the
households provide co-residence to children (< age 15 years)
welfare activities of family members and individuals.
and elders (> age 60 years). Such families are frequent in Africa
Configuration and size of the households are connected to
(14%) and Asia (13%); but rare in the USA and Europe which
is around 2% (Figure 7.2). Similarly, skipped generation 7.1.3 Rate of Population and Economic Growth
households refer to the co-residence of elders (grandparents) The problems of growing populations and food supplies have
with grandchildren; however, not parents of the grandchildren. been the main concern of people since historical times. Some
Household income: household income consists of all earnings, people perceive that the relationship between population and
whether monetary or in kind (such as goods and services), economic growth is direct while others believe the relationship
collected by households or their members annually or at is indirect. There are thus two major contrasting views
frequent intervals. However, it excludes bonus gains and other concerning the relationship existing between population growth
irregular and typically one-time earnings. and economic development. These are:
Income distribution is uneven across the world scales. Income 1.The pessimistic Malthusian and neo-Malthusians views and
from wealthy countries emerges from 16% of the population 2.Optimistic anti-Malthusian views.
and accounts for 55% of the world total. DCs account for 72% and food production?
of the world population but contribute only 1% to the global 1. Malthusian and neo-Malthusian views
total. Thomas Malthus was an English economist and clergyman
Lower economic growth rates and more employment losses during the 18thC AD. He argued that rapid population growth
excessively affect people in the DCs. Enormous employment results in resource scarcity and economic stagnation. Malthus
and income losses rapidly push an immense rise in poverty. Low thought population growth and food production are inversely
income households often hold a large number of children and related. He assumed that population grows faster than food sup-
investment is low on human capital. They are frequently plies and leads to poverty and hunger. Malthus argued that
exposed to a meager food supply and poor health. Households population multiplies in a Geometric progression
with fewer children and more income, invest more money per (1…2…4…8…16…32…) while food production increases
child for nutrition, health, and education. Recently, the constantly in an Arithmetic progression
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been worsening Malthus thought these contrasting trends create a condition
disparities within countries. where population number outstrips food supplies that eventually
causing resource scarcity, hunger, disease, and war plus The system considers the poor unnourished people as a ‘surplus
resource conflicts - that he called catastrophes. He considered population’. Capitalism uses the ‘surplus population’ for
the catastrophes are inevitable positive checks of population securing job competition among the jobless to cut wages and
growth emerging to equalize the imbalance between population maximize profits for the ultimate capital accumulation. Marx,
and economic growth. Malthus proposed preventive checks in finally, suggests socialism as the best solution to growing
place of the inevitable positive checks to control population populations and increasing food demands. He advocated the
growth. Preventive checks to Malthus are moral restraints that establishment of socialism; a new social system with differing
include delayed marriage, avoidance of making sexual economic structures and socio-political orders.
meetings, and having fewer children. Thomas Malthus Esther Boserup was a Danish economist of the 20th C. She
developed his theory in 1798 in his treatise titled: “An Essay on argued that population growth can be compensated through
the Principles of Population”. food production using induced technology and innovation. She
Unlike Malthus, Neo- Malthusians have different view on the developed this anti-Malthusian theory in a thesis titled: “Theory
preventive check i.e, family planning need to be addressed. on Population and Agriculture” in 1965; against Thomas
They argue that there is an imbalance between rates of Malthus. Boserup argues population is an important variable
population and economic growth. They believe that rapid that positively influences agricultural development through the
population growth retards economic progress. application of innovative technology.
2) Anti-Malthusian views Boserup and her supporters argue population growth could not
These are of two types: a) Marxist view; and b) Boserupian view be regulated by the shortage of food supplies and necessities as
Karl Marx was a German philosopher and political writer of the reported in Malthus (1798). According to these scholars, the
19thC AD. He was among the socialist (communist) theorists increasing demand for food supplies from growing populations
that oppose the theory of Thomas Robert Malthus. According encourages agricultural innovation and the use of technologies
to Karl Marx, production in the capitalist economic system is in farming to keep pace with the growing needs. In this context,
not targeted atrmeeting people’s needs; but an accumulation of Boserup confirms that necessity is the mother of invention.
capital.
Anti-Malthusians are in general optimists who consider that birth reduction alone never brings full development; though it
population growth shall not slow down economic development. potentially speeds up economic progress. Sustainable economic growth
thus depends not only on fertility declines. It relies on the availability of
They argue that an increase in population is an opportunity
veracious institutions, sound socio economic policy, human capital, job
rather than being a predicament for economic development.
opportunities, equity, and fair income and wealth distribution. Rapid
They add that resource limitations initiated by increased population growth brings a higher youth dependency ratio and inequality.
populations could be minimized by the creativity It is often linked with challenges such as chronic poverty, poor health,
(inventiveness) of the human mind. low education access, more hunger, and malnutrition.
NOTE:
The connection between population and economic growth rates is
intricate. Having more people provide the potential to engage abundant a) Concepts and definitions
human labor in the production of material goods and services. Engaging
Employment: employment refers to the occupation of
large labor in the production sector likewise offers enormous economic
individuals or groups of people in certain income-making
benefits. In this context, population growth endows the potential for
economic development. On the other side, if the rate of economic activities for earning money or useable products to satisfy
development exceeds the rate of growth in the human population, per- personal and household livelihood needs. The occupation could
capita income will increase. Slowing-down the rate of population growth be permanent or temporary depending on the type of
past lowering fertility rates may thus result in the “Demographic employment. The type could be also self-employment (working
Dividend”. This means, the number of working-age population increases in one’s own business); working in public services (through
compared to the dependent population. The Demographic Dividend then
monthly wages); occupation in private companies or
allows investing more in health and education. It again pushes to increase
corporations; and/or working in any income-generating
labour productivity and help DCs to sustain a steady macroeconomic
situation. If the working population properly engaged in production activities on a daily; monthly or annual basis.
activities, production and per-capita income will rise up swiftly than in The universally regulated age of employment is 15 years
the previous. Nevertheless, the rapid falls in population growth rates (completion of compulsory training). Nevertheless, the age
were observed not to promote full potential economic development in limit can vary from country to country depending on the level
many DCs (e.g. in Latin America and the Caribbean region). This implies of development. The minimum age limit for employment in
Ethiopia is 18 years. In most cases, age 18 years is commonly Large numbers of university graduates in those countries lack
accepted to be the minimum age of occupation by many employment opportunities due to deficiencies in ‘employable
countries so as not to endanger the morale, health, and skills’ (skill discrepancies) with the demands of the
wellbeing of citizens. employment market.
Unemployment: unemployment can literarily be conceived as
joblessness or having no occupation to harvest money or NOTE:
products for supporting self-living or household livelihoods. It The unemployment rate for any region or country can be
is the occasion when an active working person or persons lack computed as:
the opportunity to get an appropriate occupation for producing (Number of unemployed individuals) / (Sums of employed and
livelihood support resources. unemployed individuals ) x100=unemployment rate of a year
Unemployment levels have recently been taken as signals of Case Example: Given that the number of unemployed people is
economic development, market recital, and social wellbeing. about 2,350,000 and those employed are 56,000,000 in Ethiopia
The rates of unemployment in general terms may vary from in 2022, the unemployment rate is estimated as:
country to country and from region to region. DCs for instance, (2,350,000 )/ (56,000,000+2,350,000)
face the highest rates of unemployment compared to MDCs. x100=2,350,000/58,350,000x100=4%. This implies that from
This is because DCs are characterized by higher rates of hundred people, four individuals are unemployed in the country
population growth and urbanization. They lack the necessary in 2022.
economic structure to engage the growing job demand beyond The DCs require to urgently nurture sustainable development
agriculture. Higher levels of unemployment could be programs to host the unemployed youth population. The
indications of economic disaster. Lower levels of agricultural development activities in those countries have to be
unemployment may equally be indicators of an ‘overheated supported by non-farming enterprises. This may create
economy’. economic diversification and a wide range of opportunities for
Addressing youth unemployment problems in DCs like those in youth employment.
Africa is becoming a formidable policy contest nowadays.
Underemployment: refers to the condition where productivity employed persons (age 15 years), and age 0-14 years = children
and duration of occupation remain below the expectations, age 0-14 years. For instance, the economic dependency ratio of
preferences, and capacities of employed persons. It includes the the urban population of Ethiopia in 2018 was:
inadequacy of time to cover the work (time-related Economic Dependency Ratio
underemployment); and/or incompatibility of ‘occupational (EDR)=(1,770,294+5,682,453+3,757,574)/7,518,855
skills’ and payments (inadequate employment situations) to the x100=149, implying that 149 dependents could be supported by
employed persons. Both aforementioned impressions reflect 100 employed persons in terms of food, clothing, health,
‘under-utilization of the worker’s capacities. education, and others.
To generalize, employment and unemployment hold the basic 7.2. LAND DEGRADATION AND DESERTIFICATION
life affairs of individuals and households in society. For Land degradation is the long-term alteration of the quality and
instance, unemployment poses distressing effects on individuals quantity of the land over a given geographic area. It leads to the
and households’ livelihoods. It upsets not only the unemployed loss of the biological mass including forests, pastures, and
individual but also household members as well as the broader meadows. Land degradation affects soils and water resources as
community. Unemployment mainly distresses the living well as causing air pollution and scenic deterioration. Extreme
conditions of elders at the retirement age. climatic patterns, droughts, plagues, pathogens, and floods are
The Economic Dependency Ratio (EDR): relates the number manifestations of land degradation and desertification. This
of non-workers (unemployed and underemployed) to the topic thus focuses on these pressing issues.
number of workers or employed in a given country, representing 7.2.1 The forms of land degradation

the share of the dependent population. It is computed as: Land degradation refers to the long-term lessening of
productivity of land resources, ecological integrity, and the
worth of humans. It involves the deterioration of physical,
chemical, and biological processes (Figure 7.3).
Where U=unemployed persons (age 15 years), I = persons not Physical degradation: this involves the physical breakdown
in the labor force or underemployed (age 15 years), E= and alteration of land resources. land resources are often
physically deteriorated as a result of mechanical damage Land degradation is caused by natural and human factors. The
through detachment, translocation, pollution, wastage, and natural factors include the alteration of landscapes by a volcanic
excessive use. This type of degradation manifests itself through eruption, flooding, and tsunami. The human factors are
compaction, crusting, hardening, thinning, and sealing of soils. population pressure and anthropogenic induced climate change;
It causes a textural and structural changes in soils including improper farming practices; land use/cover changes; rapid
color changes (e.g. see Figure 7.3). Water dries up and shows a urbanization; weak policies and institution, and unsustainable
physical change of color when degraded. The size, density, and use and management of environmental resources.
composition of plant species also decrease with excessive use. 7.2.3 Impacts of Land degradation
Chemical degradation: this introduces a relative change in the Land degradation damages freshwater and marine ecosystems
constituent components of the Earth’s resources. Chemical plus the livelihood of households and communities. It drives
degradation causes a chemical change in the constituent climate change through the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs)
minerals of land resources. It involves the loss of nutrients from and minimizes rates of carbon sequestration. Humans whose
soils; eutrophication of freshwater and quality alteration in the livelihoods directly depend on raw resources are more affected
biomass. When soils are chemically altered, they become acidic by land degradation. Those people with lower adaptation
or alkaline due to changes in Hydrogen (H+) and Hydroxide choices will be more susceptible to climate changes posed by
(OH-) ions, respectively. the degradation of land resources. Land degradation and climate
Biological degradation: biological degradation comprises the change cause risky livelihoods accompanied by food insecurity
alteration of the biological mass due to human and natural and poverty. In Afar the bounds of adaptation levels, land
causes. Natural forests can be altered by the excessive use by degradation, and climate change hazards instigate ever-
humans. Deforestation, overgrazing, and spraying harmful increasing harms and unwelcomed vagaries like forced resource
chemicals degrade forest resources. It results in the contraction conflicts, poverty, and migration.
of the sizes, species composition, and quality of the forest
resources. NOTE:
7.2.2 The Causes of Land Degradation Land degradation can be minimized through:
Afforestation and reforestation: planting trees on barren and Like land degradation, desertification poses several
deforested areas, impacts on the environment and human livelihoods. For
Controlling unsustainable tree cutting for fuel and construction, example, it:
Limiting the expansion of farming to marginal lands, and Lessens the productivity of agriculture and household
Using alternative energy sources to reduce tree cutting for fuel. incomes;
7.2.4 Desertification Minimizes the provision of dryland ecosystem
Desertification is land degradation in dry, arid, semi-arid, and services;
dry sub-humid areas. Its variation from land degradation is Causes contraction of the biological diversity;
mainly geographic for the latter can occur including in the Leads to the expansion of invasive plant and animal
wetter areas of the Earth. The size and intensity of species;
desertification have been increasing in recent decades mainly in Increases soil salinity (accumulation of dissolved salts in
the dry, and arid areas (see Figure 7.4). groundwater); Raises greenhouse gas emissions.
Deserts often occur naturally adjacent to cold ocean currents
and at the interior of continents. Desertification posed by land Figure 7.5 Desert landscapes in Ethiopia’s Afar & Somali
degradation is rather derived from anthropogenic forces. Region
Population pressure; policy and socioeconomic settings; As you can see desertification causes many ecological and
expansion of farming to drylands; forest burning; and socioeconomic impacts. So, how can it be minimized? The
inappropriate land use and management practices are among the following measures are suggested to restrain its effects:
anthropogenic causes of desertification. Human-derived
climate change exacerbates the intensity of desertification.
Desert landscapes are characterized by increased aridity, barren
and saline soils, and sparse vegetation (e.g. see desert and
drought-affected environments in Ethiopia; Figure 7.5).
 Application of indigenous and local knowledge(ILK): livelihoods. This topic thus focuses on these two environmental
e.g. dry farming and irrigation; catastrophes.
Using site-specific technological options, 7.3.1. Drought
Water harvesting (planting pits, micro-basins, micro- drought is primarily defined as an extended shortfall of rainfall.
ponds), Hydrological drought on the other hand relates to the under-
Diversification of farming and income sources; normal water flow in the lakes, streams, and underground
Growing drought-resilient and short maturing crops, sources. Agricultural drought is defined as the deficit of
Application of terracing, relay cropping, intercropping, and moisture on the topsoil. This is because the absence of moisture
reduced tillage practices, on the topmost part of the soil affects the growth of crops. The
Livelihood diversification: non-farm and off-farm work, aforementioned three drought types in combination form the
Enhancing early-warning mechanisms. environmental drought. They together lead to the imbalance
7.3. RECURRENT DROUGHTS AND FAMINES between demand and supply in society; commonly named
Drought is a prolonged deficiency of moisture and water for socioeconomic drought. Socioeconomic drought thus links to
certain activities. It is often allied to rainfall abnormality that the supply and demand of material goods (like water, fodder,
commonly causes a serious hydrological imbalance. Drought food crops, fish, and energy). It has also strong links with the
can be categorized as metrological, hydrological, agricultural, features of meteorological, hydrological, and agricultural
environmental, and/or socioeconomic based on intended droughts.
specific purposes. Droughts are very common in arid drylands. They frequently
Famine is accompanied by severe and prolonged hunger due to happen in those areas through the occurrences of extreme
a lack of edible items as the result of drought or any other risk. climatic events.
It is commonly linked to drought or perhaps the two The persistent occurrence of anticyclones or advection of hot
complement each other. Both cause a wide range of and dry air masses exacerbates the conditions of the drier areas.
devastations on the environment, population, health, and Rainfall reductions and excessive moisture losses because of
high-temperature levels in the drier areas causally drive the c) Response and mitigation strategies of drought
occurrence of droughts. The responses for drought occurrence include the use of:
Global Trends and Patterns of Drought Improved drought monitoring services,
The global trends (frequency & intensity) of droughts have been Better water and crop management strategies (e.g. the use of
increasing in West Africa and the Mediterranean region since groundwater supplies),
the 1950s. Conversely, droughts have been showing decreasing Creation of public awareness and education, Watershed
trends in Central America, North America, and northwest management and local planning strategies, developing early-
Australia. Due to climate change, the intensity and frequency of warning capacities.
droughts have also been shown to exacerbate the severity of NOTE:
meteorological and agricultural droughts over the drylands of The aforementioned drought mitigation measures and responses
the world. can be accomplished through:
The Impacts of Drought Soil and water conservation (SWC) practices: (e.g. crop
The following are the direct and indirect effects of drought: rotation, row cropping, terracing, minimum tillage, trenches,
droughts directly affect agricultural production shallow wells, shelterbelts, mulching, and reclamation of salt-
They reduce water supply (dry-up wetlands), affected soils), and
Reduce plant diversity and composition, Herd management: reduction of livestock heads and parasite
Cause the loss of biodiversity and natural ecosystems, control.
Droughts indirectly affect business, employment 7.3.2. Famine
opportunities, and income, Famine is persistent and acute hunger or starvation caused by
They cause health hazards to humans and animals, food and water scarcity over a geographic area. It is a
Cause rise in food prices, food insecurity, malnutrition, widespread and severe state of malnourishment, starvation,
widespread famine, starvation, and poverty, illness, and death of a significant part of the population. It is
Raise school dropout rates, caused by natural and human factors. Recurrent droughts,
Migration, social unrest, and even conflict in extreme cases. landslides, floods, tsunamis, locust invasions, epidemics, an
unfair share of resources, inequalities, plus wars, and conflicts vegetation for farmland expansion; and/or cutting trees for
result in famines and starvations among human beings. Famines construction and fuel-wood demands 7.4.1 Causes of
may cover considerable periods lasting from some months to a deforestation
few years Famines can be minimized by using the following The sources of deforestation can be classified as underlying and
strategies: proximate causes. The underlying causes are indirect sources
Accessing humanitarian aid: this involves the donation of but play a principal role in deforestation to happen. One of these
food and other necessities including healthcare to address the is climate change (change in rainfall levels & patterns). The
immediate and basic needs of the victims other is purely anthropogenic. It includes population pressure,
Rebuild communities: taking rehabilitation and cultural and socioeconomic variables, and government policy
restoration measures, types. For instance, flawed policies cause tenure insecurities,
Strengthen local food system resilience: working on weak law enforcement, and wrong allocation of rights.
sustainable food access options, Regressive cultural practices lead to unsustainable use of forest
Focus on long-term economic strategies: promotion of long- resources. Weak economic policies push poor investment
term socio-economic development measures (e.g. patterns and promote the rate of deforestation. High population
diversification of the economy; expansion of employment growth transpires additional demand for resources and
options; liberalizing the market and product distribution expansion of farming to the virgin lands through the emergence
patterns; etc.). prevention? of new landless households.
7.4 DEFORESTATION The proximate causes are direct drivers of deforestation. They
Forest ecosystems provide a wide range of services. They include:
stabilize local climates; control flooding, and filter human and Clearing and burning of forest trees for farmland expansion;
natural wastes. Forest trees minimize soil erosion at local, Fuel-wood collection and timber production;
regional, or global scales. Expansion of new settlements and infrastructural developments;
Deforestation refers to the removal of forest trees and their Mining and quarrying activities;
products through commercial logging; clearing and burning of
Commercial logging practices; plus Overstocking and about economic and political opportunities and the use of the
overgrazing. internet for a wide variety of purposes. Access gaps to
7.4.2 Consequences of deforestation computers, televisions (TVS), mobile phones, and internet
When forests are removed: services are important indicators of the digital divide. On the
Long-term carbon stock reduction may happen, international scale, telecommunication services provide
Loss of biodiversity and other products will occur, universal access to narrow the gap of the digital divide. This
Destruction of biomes and wildlife habitats happens, topic is thus aimed at familiarizing students with these
Disruption of the natural hydrological cycle and river disparities.
ecosystems may ensue, At the end of this section, you will be able to: explain the
Droughts and famines may transpire, emerging digital divide between different regions of the world.
Erosion, flooding, and sedimentation can take place, Keywords:
Soil nutrient depletion may take place; and The digital divide is the breach between persons, families,
Global warming and climate change may become worse. companies, and geographic regions at varied socioeconomic
The risks of deforestation can be minimized through the proper levels concerning retrieving relevant information for getting
use of available forests and by planting trees in degraded areas. access to a wide range of economic and political opportunities.
Running afforestation and reforestation programs; area It mainly relates to the difference in getting access to
closures; controlling forest burning; restricting commercial information communication technologies (ICTs) and the use of
logging; using alternative energy in place of firewood, and the internet for a wide variety of activities. On an international
using rubber panels in place of timber help to minimize the rapid scale, availability of the universal telecommunication access
loss of forests. plays an important role narrowing the gap of the worldwide
7.5. THE WORLDWIDE DIGITAL DIVIDE digital divide. Access to TVs, computers, mobile phones, and
The digital divide refers to the gap existing among persons, the internet is an imperative sign of the digital divide.
households, companies, and geographic areas with diverse Although ICT utilization has been vividly expanded over the
socioeconomic backgrounds related to access to information past decades, access appears to diverge widely between regions;
and also between countries. For instance, access and exposure Damage to old business takes away jobs (because
to internet technology are at the lowest among the countries in digital works need more education), Broadens income
South Asia, and SSA is equated to MDCs. The possible reasons inequality (worsening income disparity among
for the growing gaps are: individuals & countries),
Income and financial shortages, Exacerbates the hazard of personal security (cyber terrorism,
Poor quality Vs. expensive connections, criminal networks, illegal money, hate speech, fake news, etc.).
Low level of education (lack of digital literacy and Advantages of digitalization:
poor technical knowhow), Travel reservations, translations, support and customer
Limited access to ICT, services, telemedicine and e-learning,
Lack of knowledge and understanding of the Social networking,
technology, and Absence of opportunity to learn how to use Provision of affordable education and learning
computers materials for students,
NOTE: Real-time weather and market information for poor
The digital divide among information “haves” and ‘have not farmers and fishermen,
mainly relies on income and education. Factors such as family Training for teachers, medical diagnosis and information for
size, age, sex, cultural and linguistic experiences plus those living remotely, and Financial services for the unbanked
geographic location likewise play imperative roles. services previously out of reach for remote areas and
Governments should play the principal role in narrowing the underserved populations.
breach by making and organizing reachable e-services and
plausible ICT. Implementing a cohesive and citizen-oriented
style might lead governments to enhance fair opportunities in
the use of ICTs.
Consequences of the digital divide: