Environmental degradation and pollution pose major threats to the planet and to human well-being. These challenges take multiple forms, including ecosystem destruction, biodiversity loss, deforestation, desertification, and the depletion of natural resources. They are often compounded by air, soil, and water pollution, as well as by noise, light, and chemical contamination. This research axis places particular emphasis on deforestation, whose consequences range from biodiversity loss to the acceleration of climate change. Large-scale deforestation - especially in tropical regions - releases substantial amounts of CO₂, contributing to global warming, while simultaneously destroying habitats and threatening global biodiversity.

 

The objective of this axis is to understand both the human determinants - and, more importantly, the consequences - of environmental degradation and deforestation for human living conditions. The research will examine a broad set of outcomes, including effects on individual incomes (particularly among farmers), health, education, and migration patterns. Satellite data from missions such as Sentinel-2 allow for precise monitoring of environmental change, pollution, and forest loss. High-resolution imagery, combined with micro-level socioeconomic data, offers a unique opportunity to estimate these effects with precision, particularly in low-income regions that are often the most vulnerable to environmental shocks.