POPULATION POLITICS
On World Population Day, CIWEM called for an open and
informed public debate on world population. CIWEM believes that
stabilisation of the population lies at the heart of sustainable
development and can achieve the goal of consumption within
environmental limits.
Scratch the surface of any environmental problem and population
growth and unfettered consumption lie at their heart. And despite
their centrality to many of the world's social, economic and
environmental problems, it remains an issue that most governments
ignore.
Media attention peaked last year when the world's population
breached seven billion. Interest is beginning to wane as the scale
of the problem, and its political and ethical sensitivity, is
realised. Shockingly, even the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development passed without recognition of the link
between high populations, poverty, unsustainable growth and
development, and climate change.
Efforts, now, to slow the rate of population growth and move the
world towards a fairer and more balanced use of natural resources
will gift humankind the ability to feed itself and live within
environmental limits in the future. CIWEM is determined that
governments recognise that large, unsustainable populations when
allied to high levels of consumption cause extensive environmental
degradation and resource depletion with impacts far beyond their
countries borders.
There needs to be an end to the presumption that economic growth
and population growth are essential for successful societies, with
wellbeing, female empowerment and a healthy natural environment
afforded greater status. CIWEM is calling for a demonstrable
commitment by the government to align all aspects of the UK
economy, including its population, with the principle of living
within environmental limits.
A marked reluctance to discuss population publicly, even by some
sections of the green movement, has added to the urgency of
addressing it now. CIWEM is clear that many of the problems we face
today are related directly to population growth and mass
consumption and that there is a need for a public debate on the
issue.
CIWEM's executive director, Nick Reeves, said: 'The final
declaration at Rio, "The Future We Want", barely touches on
population. There is no mention at all of the need to slow the rate
of population growth and consumption within the capacity of the
planet to support it. The declaration "recognizes", "acknowledges,"
and "encourages" the need for access to reproductive health but
offers little in the way of positive action or commitment. There is
a clear unbroken line between population growth and environmental
degradation. A failure to recognise this and its absence throughout
the discussions is as alarming as it is irresponsible.'
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