PED Nexus

5.4 The interrelationship of all the elements of the PED Nexus

As show, it is difficult to separate the collective relationship of all the elements of the PED Nexus. In all the cases the third element always has an unforeseen impact on incomes. There is therefore, need to understand the importance of the interrelationship among the elements of the PED Nexus.

In a first case scenario, as shown in the symbiosis of the different elements, rapidly expanding population growth can cause unwarranted exploitation of natural resources. Humans use more and more land, water and other resources to address development issues such as poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy. A growth in population means additional resources being used to increase the standards of living for more people who in the end put untold pressure on the environment to provide for them. It is safe to say if the expansion of population continues to increase at the current rate, there is no way the natural resources we have can meet the demand.

Alternatively, pressure can also come from the development side. Human beings organise numerous development projects to meet their needs and wants. These development activities are not necessarily in place to benefit the growing population; and are often for financial gain of a select few and yet impact the environment and the society in a negative manner. This kind of development activity usually shuns conservation of the environment and results in negative outcomes that have sour impacts on the communities who depend on the environment for a source of income and livelihoods.

Quality of life of people cannot be improved without development activities. Development activities more often than not cannot be carried out without expl...

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...resource. At international level, the outcome means reasonable prices for petrol.
7. Conclusion

The PED Nexus seems to be a broad and complicated subject. The elements are so involved in each other and interact at every turn to attain a certain outcome. Sometimes that outcome is good, the outcome can mean preservation of the environment, provision of livelihoods for a community and a satisfied population. But in most cases especially in the developing world, this need for development, this quest for a better standard of living and higher incomes leads to exploitation of the environment and those that live within its vicinity. Often times, the people live in the rural areas and have no power to protest before the damage is done and the environment has no voice of its own – Development activities therefore impact the environment and the population in a negative way.