One frustrated resident of the wealthy Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood in Southern California recently complained on social media that people "should not be forced to live on property with brown lawns, golf on brown courses or apologize for wanting their gardens to be beautiful."

Meanwhile, in the state's more impoverished rural areas, residents have bigger problems than unsightly landscaping -- shallow wells have increased the concentration of toxins in their water supply, making it unsafe to consume. Some wells have stopped pumping water altogether, forcing residents to use bottled water to drink, cook, bathe and even flush the toilet. While officials have scrambled to get water tanks to people in need and provide filters and portable showers, they haven't been able to meet demand or come up with a long-term solution.

This disparity is one more example of how closely environmental problems are tied to social injustice. Low-income neighborhoods and communities of color suffer most from the impacts of environmental hazards, whether it's climate change, pollution, access to services or drought. Throughout the Center's programs, including our population, overconsumption, climate and environmental health work, we strive to draw attention to these gross inequalities and work with communities to push for a future where people and wildlife live in a healthier, fairer world.

For the wild,

Stephanie Feldstein Population and Sustainability Director

P.S. Today's world population is: 7,284,759,445. We can still save room for wildlife -- spread the word and share the newsletter below.