Environment Facts

Environment Facts

Poverty is a complex issue. It is more than a lack of material possessions ... it is a mindset. Oftentimes, this mindset is affected by the environment in which a child lives. Learn the facts about environment and how it contributes to a child's poverty. Understanding these environment facts will help you to be more effective as you join the fight against poverty.

A child's environment complicates many aspects of poverty including their health. This is evident when you learn environment facts such as the fact that the vast majority of malaria cases are related to environmental factors.

But poor health is not the only issue. The facts about environment show the complexity of poverty. From weather extremes like drought and flooding to lack of access to adequate sanitation to uncultivated land, the environmental issues are widespread and far-reaching.

Compassion aims to make sure the facts about environment are no longer a part of a child's poverty. Explore our ministry and you will discover that our sponsorship program is multi-faceted and holistic, addressing the environmental needs of sponsored children through a variety of ways. 

Environment Facts
Environment Facts Get the facts on the environment in developing countries and how it affects children and their families.
  • At least 1.6 billion people globally do not have electricity in their homes, and approximately 54 percent of people in developing countries lack access to modern forms of energy.
  • More than 3 million children under age 5 die each year from diseases because of environment-related causes and conditions.
  • Each year, acute respiratory infections kill approximately 2 million children under age 5. Worldwide, 60 percent of acute respiratory infections are due to environmental conditions.
  • Diarrheal diseases take the lives of almost 2 million children each year. Eighty to 90 percent of these diseases are related to environmental conditions, specifically contaminated water and inadequate sanitation.
  • Nearly 1 million people die each year because of malaria. Of these deaths, 80 percent are children under age 5 in sub-Saharan Africa. Up to 90 percent of malaria cases are attributed to environmental factors.
  • About 2.5 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation — roughly two-fifths of the world's population.
  • About 1 million children each year are diagnosed with intestinal worms causing malnutrition due to the lack of sanitation. Many cases go undiagnosed since mothers may think this normal and not seek medical attention.
  • More than 6 million people are blind from trachoma, a disease caused by the lack of water along with poor hygiene practices. Studies show that an adequate water supply could reduce trachoma infections by 25 percent.
  • More than 200 million people live in coastal flood zones, which would be dramatically impacted by rising waters. While some 4 billion people — 60 percent of the world's population — live within 65 miles of a coast.
  • The number of people living in countries where cultivated land is critically scarce is projected to increase from 448 million in 2005 to between 559 million and 706 million in 2025.