This article originally appeared in The Jakarta Post

By Martín Abregú and Alexander Irwan

Environmental degradation and social inequality are two sides of the same coin—inextricably linked and mutually aggravating. Natural disasters and human-made devastation routinely ravage areas with the fewest economic resources and the least social capital. 

But the inverse is true as well: empowering those same communities is key to reducing damage. Their stewardship is essential in mitigating the impacts of floods, fires, pollution, and even climate change. And yet far too often, the people who understand the problems best lack the power to solve them.

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