Unlocking the Delimma of Environmental Sustainability and Poverty in Nigeria: A Case Study of Bayelsa State

Abstract

The Rio Declaration of 1992 and the subsequent adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 by the global community brought to the fore the importance of preserving the environment for the sustenance of human and natural life. While appreciating the nexus between the environment and poverty, it is observed that the poor populace through their daily practices destroy the environment which further contributes to the perpetuation of poverty in the society. Unfortunately, the poor are unaware of the consequences of their activities. This paper therefore investigates the relationship between environmental sustainability and poverty eradication within the context of the lack of basic knowledge of environmental sustenance among the poor with a view to providing avenues to solve the problem. The paper adopts the focus group research design and data was generated from both primary and secondary sources, while causal analysis served as the technique for the examination of data in the research. The study further deploys problem solving as a complementary approach for data analysis in view of its interest in addressing the environment-poverty quagmire. The research uses the environmental citizenship theory in explaining the place of education in the relationship between the environment and poverty. It is recommended among others that education can serve as a key factor to resolving the dilemma of environmental sustainability and poverty in Nigeria.