Indicators of Wealth Inequality

Almost a billion people suffer from hunger (Water, Energy and Food Security
Nexus, 2011)
The world produces more than enough food to feed everybody – global per (FAO, 2013; FAO,
capita food supply today is around 2,800kcal per day. (Nutritional experts 2011) Food and
recommend an average daily intake of 2,500kcal for men or 2,000kcal for Agricultural
women (FAO, 2013). However, much of this food is unevenly distributed and Organisation
up to a third is wasted (FAO, 2011).
Global freshwater demand is projected to exceed current supply by more than (WRG, 2009)
40 per cent by 2030
By 2030, almost half of the world’s population will be living in areas of high (OECD,
water stress 2008).
768 million people are living without a safe, clean water supply (WHO/UNICEF
2013)
1.4 billion lack access to a reliable electricity supply and 2.7 billion depend on (World
traditional sources of bioenergy such as wood as their main fuel for cooking and Wildlife Fund,
heating. 2011)
Forest loss and degradation is estimated to cost the world economy US$2-4.5 (Sukhdev,
trillion annually. 2010)
The annual cost of pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, waste and depleted (UNPRI and
UNEPFI, 2010).
resources could reach US$28.6 trillion by 2050.
Less than 100,000 people worldwide own $9.8 trillion of wealth held offshore Tax Justice
Network,(2016)
At least $21 trillion (possibly $32) of unreported private financial wealth was Tax Justice
Network (2016)
owned by wealthy individuals via tax havens at the end of 2010
Three private banks, UBS, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs handle most Tax Justice
Network (2016)
assets offshore on behalf of the global super rich. Ten banks alone commanded
over half the top fifty’s asset total.
Almost half of the world’s wealth is now owned by just one percent of the (Oxfam, 2014)
population.
The wealth of one percent of the richest people in the world amounts to $110 (Oxfam, 2014)
trillion. That is 65 times the total wealth of the bottom half of the world’s
population.
The bottom half of the world’s population own the same as the richest 85 people (Oxfam, 2014)
in the world.
Seven out of ten people live in countries where economic inequality has (Oxfam, 2014)
increased in the last 30 years.
The richest one percent increased their share of income in 24 out of 26 countries (Oxfam, 2014)
between 1980 and 2012.
The vulnerability of people who are socially, economically and politically Bergman et al.,
marginalized is further exacerbated by changes in water resources and crop (2016)
yields.
In 2016, 17% of the world’s adult population were illiterate, two thirds are (UNESCO,
women. 775 million adults and 122 million youth globally are illiterate. In 2016)
developed countries, 160 million adults are functionally illiterate (UN, 2013a).
Destabilisation: “Without resolute counteraction, climate change will (Schubert et
overstretch many societies’ adaptive capabilities within the coming al., 2008 p.1).
decades”…“in-action could result in destabilisation and violence, jeopardising
national and international security to a new degree
Source Foley (2016)
References

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www.fao.org/docrep/014/mb060e/mb060e00.pdf Accessed 8 June 2014).
FAO (2013) Statistical Yearbook 2013, Food and Agricultural Organisation, Rome, Italy.
Foley, H. F. (2016) ‘Understanding Sustainability: A new conceptual framework for sustainability’ Paper presented
at the 26th Irish Environmental Researchers' Colloquium, 22nd-24th March, 2016, University of Limerick,
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Correspondence Dr. Helen Foley, Department of Management and Organisation, School of Business, Waterford
Institute of Technology, Ireland. hfoley@wit.ie Mobile 086 0780 485 Work (051) 845609