A Sustainable Population?

To mark World Population Day on 11th July, CIWEM is demanding that world leaders address the complex linkages between population, consumption, poverty and sustainable development.

The global population is projected to rise from 6.5 billion today to 9.2 billion in 2050, with the population of the 50 poorest countries more than doubling to 1.7 billion. The number of people living in poverty is increasing but perversely, consumption levels are currently outstripping the biological capacity of the Earth by 25 per cent each year. Twenty percent of the world’s population consumes over 80 percent of the Earth's natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage and unfair distribution of wealth.

The largest population growth is found in poor countries, which have the least adequate resources to address the challenges. The unplanned growth of cities creates huge pressure on local ecosystems and can overwhelm environmental resources. Millions have settled in slums without access to adequate shelter, clean water and sanitation. This produces further deterioration in living standards and threatens sustainable development.

CIWEM urges politicians at the G8 summit to integrate population issues into economic and development strategies, which will speed up sustainable development and poverty alleviation, and contribute to an improved quality of life of the population.

CIWEM Executive Director, Nick Reeves, says:

“There must be an end to the presumption that economic growth via a rising population is essential for a successful society. A third of all people who have ever lived are alive today. Large unsustainable populations, particularly when allied to high levels of consumption, cause environmental degradation and contribute to climate change.”

“Directing more resources to all of these issues is critical to meeting the Millennium Development Goals, particularly those focusing on the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. The G8 needs to take a lead on this issue, especially when considering the current food shortages. ”