The link between environmental degradation and poverty is no longer theoretical: it is measured. The new Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2025, developed by the University of Oxford and the United Nations Development Programme, confirms that eight out of ten people living in precarious conditions are exposed to extreme climate risks such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, or air pollution.
The study analyzes for the first time how basic deprivations —health, education, housing— overlap with the effects of climate change, in a context where ecosystems degrade faster than vulnerable communities can adapt.
Researchers warn that most of these populations, besides facing material deprivations, lack social protection networks, which amplifies the effects of natural disasters. Thus, multidimensional poverty not only implies fewer resources, but direct exposure to phenomena that can destroy homes, crops, and entire ways of life.
The Multidimensional Poverty Index ensures that people living in precarious conditions are more exposed to climate phenomena.
Environmental Poverty: When Threats Multiply
According to the report, 651 million people simultaneously suffer from at least two environmental threats, and over 300 million face three or four of them. South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are the most affected regions, with 380 and 344 million vulnerable people respectively. In South Asia, 99% of those living in extreme poverty are exposed to one or more climate risks.
Multidimensional poverty is not only measured by income: it includes lack of education, health, and essential services such as water, sanitation, or energy. When these deprivations coincide with environmental degradation, the possibility of progress fades. Data anticipates that the poorest countries will also be the hardest hit by rising temperatures and extreme phenomena by the end of the century.
In Latin America, levels are lower, although territorial inequalities persist. In Argentina, the national index only reaches 0.4%, with higher values in the northeast and northwest. The main deprivations are linked to housing conditions and access to basic services.
Reversing Environmental Poverty: Policies with an Ecological Focus
Overcoming multidimensional poverty requires more than economic assistance. Strategies must integrate the environmental factor as a central axis of development. Specialists propose strengthening community resilience through clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and green urban planning.
One key aspect is investing in ecological infrastructure: water capture systems, solar roofs, and sustainable public transportation. These measures reduce costs, create local employment, and decrease dependence on fossil fuels, while improving quality of life.
Climate financing also plays a decisive role. International funds allocated for adaptation and mitigation must prioritize the poorest and most exposed regions, promoting projects that integrate environmental solutions with social benefits.
The Multidimensional Poverty Index ensures that people living in precarious conditions are more exposed to climate phenomena.
Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Development
Experts insist that eradicating poverty and climate action are not separate goals, but complementary. Reforesting watersheds, protecting soils, restoring wetlands, and promoting environmental education can reduce future risks and generate sustainable opportunities.
Circular economy initiatives and green jobs in sectors such as waste management, renewable energies, or bioconstruction offer concrete solutions for vulnerable communities. These policies allow for income generation, emission reduction, and strengthening local autonomy.
Ultimately, reversing multidimensional poverty involves building resilience against climate change. It is not just about alleviating current deprivations, but about preventing future generations from inheriting an unequal and degraded planet. The ecological transition, if guided by social justice, can be the most powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty and vulnerability that currently defines the world map.
