도시지역 저소득계층 보호를 위한 환경정책 연구 Ⅰ-1

Abstract

Abstract Environmental Policy for Low-income Population in Urban Areas There is a new approach to sustainable development which not only considers social and economic inequity within society but also environmental inequity and the link between environmental quality and poverty. The purpose of this study is to identify environmental inequity in the distribution of environmental damages, responsibilities, and benefits among different income groups with a focus on low-income residents living in an urban area (Seoul metropolitan area) and to propose an integrated environmental policy to protect low-income population through considerations to the environment and the socioeconomic characteristics of the population and area. The objective, the first year, is to select empirical study areas based on the spatial analysis of environmental inequity in the Seoul metropolitan area. This study assesses environmental inequity using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the Seoul metropolitan area. Spatial correspondence among environment related facilities, pollution, socioeconomic position, environmentally related diseases, and their attribution of geography were described. Environment related facilities were concentrated in the suburbs of the Seoul metropolitan area. The concentrations of air pollution demonstrated a geographical pattern, with high values in urban areas and close to major roads, and low values in remote and rural areas. A standardized mortality ratio and standardized prevalence ratio for asthma, lung cancer, and atopy were also unequally distributed and found to correlate with high air pollution levels. Based on the results, we analyzed the interrelationships and interactions of different social groups in the distribution of environmental damage and benefits and their socioeconomic outcomes. The relationship between the quality of the local environment and socioeconomic status was complex and didn’t show statistically significant correlations owing to some reasons such as data restriction etc. We incorporated all of these factors and found spatial intersections in socioeconomic status and environmental risks. Nevertheless, due to the limitations of the analytical scope, we found weak linkage between socioeconomic status and environmental risks. We analyzed that socioeconomic status might itself play a role in the asthma hospitalization associated with exposure to air pollution. Individual-level characteristics showed effect modification with higher effects among those of lower socioeconomic status, but the study using group level indicators did not show important effect modification. The investigation of environmental justice requires much better information regarding the distribution of environmental damages, both in social and health terms, as well as the distribution of environmental responsibilities and environmental benefits. Thus, it is necessary to investigate environmental inequity in micro-geographical terms of exposures and the related health effects of environmental risks. Therefore we proposed 10 towns of 5 districts as empirical study candidate areas in Ansan City, Seongnam City, Incheon City, Seoul City, Gunpo City at the individual, household and area level in order to better understand environmental inequity in urban Korea. This study promotes the research by introducing methodological and conceptual approaches in the field of environmental justice. Environmental decision-making and planning should take socioeconomic circumstances and environmental equity issues into account. Care should be taken, because environmental improvements may not benefit all groups equally and could act to increase, rather than decrease, inequity. Increasing environmental equity is an inherent component of sustainable development.