Another social problem that relates to environmental problems is the growing inequality between the rich and the poor. The top over consume energy, raw materials, and manufactured goods, and the poor must cut down trees, grow crops, and fish. Due to this, both the rich and the poor are committing acts that are harmful to the planet. This leads to the next problem of inequality between the rich and the poor. The poor, because of dangerous jobs and residential segregation, are more exposed than the more well-to-do environmental dangers, known as environmental chassism. The poor are not the polluters, but are hit with the burden of the dangers. Thus, they must pay disproportionately for efforts to eliminate pollution. Their jobs may be eliminated, their neighborhoods abandoned, and greater proportion of their taxes required to pay for environmental cleanups.
