Rising incomes more damaging to the environment than population growth
Per capita income growth was more important than population growth in driving both production and consumption growth and greenhouse gas emissions, a new United Nations analysis highlights.
A new report on World Population Growth and Sustainable Development by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs reveals that the number of people on the planet has more than tripled since 1950 and could reach 11 billion by the end of the century.
Rapid population growth can exacerbate the challenge of ensuring that future development is sustainable and inclusive. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to health, education and gender equality, can help curb global population growth.
"Although population growth increases the harmful impact of economic mechanisms on the environment, per capita income growth was more important than population growth in terms of increased production and consumption and greenhouse gas emissions," said the authors of the study.
The report's authors added that "the most affluent countries bear the greatest responsibility for making rapid progress towards zero greenhouse gas emissions and for implementing strategies to decouple economic activity from environmental degradation.
The analysis also highlights that the greatest future global population growth will occur in developing countries.
One of the causes of the rapid population increase was due to an improvement in life expectancy, which was driven by several factors such as improvements in public health, nutrition, personal hygiene and medicine.
The authors of the study described this as "one of the greatest successes of social and economic development".
However, they added that population growth is also a failure to ensure that all people have the knowledge, ability and means to determine if and when they want to have children.
In this regard, they stressed that facilitating access to reproductive health services, especially for women, can accelerate social and economic development and help break intergenerational cycles of poverty.
At the same time, they noted that countries with relatively high fertility levels could invest in education and health, as well as promote full employment for all.
The resulting fertility decline could create a "unique opportunity" to accelerate economic growth.
The study also reveals that as their economies advance, developing countries will need support to reduce future pollutant emissions, as well as technical and financial assistance.
Food systems will also need to become more sustainable to meet growing needs and limit environmental damage.
The report's 10 key messages
- Rapid population growth is a common feature of the demographic transition.
- Most of the world's future population growth will take place in developing countries.
- Rapid population growth is both a sign of success and a challenge that needs to be addressed.
- World population is expected to continue to grow rapidly in the coming decades.
- Rapid population growth is both a cause and a consequence of slow development progress.
- Access to reproductive health services can accelerate social and economic development.
- A decline in fertility can create an opportunity to accelerate economic growth.
- Rising incomes contribute more to environmental degradation than population growth.
- Developing countries need support to reduce future emissions and develop sustainably.
- Food systems must be transformed to feed a growing population and limit environmental damage.
