Pollution does not affect all people equally. It disproportionately impacts on poorer communities in both developing and developed countries. Poor communities may be located close to pollution sources, they may have poor or non-existent pollution management practices, and some social groups (e.g. certain workers, women, the young, etc.) may be at particular risk.
The paper Tackling Pollution is Essential for Meeting SDG Poverty Objectives identifies the links between poverty and the risks from different types of pollution, with examples from around the world, and examines how these risks pose a threat to the achievement of the SDGs. Finally, it sets out how policies can be evaluated and formulated to reduce these risks and target action to help countries meet their SDG commitments.