{"id":3217,"date":"2019-06-20T08:13:28","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T08:13:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/africasustainabilitymatters.com\/?p=3217"},"modified":"2026-01-11T05:30:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T05:30:21","slug":"numbers-have-consequences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/2019\/06\/20\/numbers-have-consequences\/","title":{"rendered":"Numbers Have Consequences"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Reversing\nthe rise in human numbers is the most overlooked and essential strategy for\nachieving long-term balance with the environment. Contrary to widespread\nopinion, it does not require \u201cpopulation control\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\nan era of changing climate and sinking economics, limits to growth are back and\nsqueezing us painfully. Whereas many people once meant more ingenuity, more\ntalent, and innovation, today it just seems to mean less for each. Less water\nfor every cattle herder in the Horn of Africa. Less land for every farmer. Less\ncapacity in the atmosphere to accept the heat-trapping gases that could fry the\nplanet for centuries to come. Scarce and higher priced energy and food. If the\neconomy does not bounce back to its glory days, less credit and fewer jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To\nmake a dent in these problems- in the short term without throwing anyone\noverboard, we will need to radically reduce individuals\u2019 footprint on the\nenvironment through improvements in technology and probably standards in the\nlifestyles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But\nuntil the world\u2019s population stops growing, there will be no end to the need to\nsqueeze an individual\u2019s consumption of natural resources. The low consuming\nbillions of the developing world would love to consume as Americans do, with\nsimilar disregard for the environment \u2013 and they have so much of a right to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population growth constantly pushes the consequences of any level of individual consumption to a higher plateau. Reductions in individual consumption can be overwhelmed by the increase in population. The simple reality is that acting on both, consistently and simultaneously, is the key to long-term environmental sustainability. The sustainability benefits of level falling human numbers are too powerful to ignore for long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As\nnoted, the United Nations (UN) estimates that the global population will continue\nto grow until about the end of this century, resulting in a more or less stable\nworld population at about double the current number. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population growth, population ageing and decline, as well as migration and urbanization, affect virtually all development objectives that are on top of national and global development agendas. They affect consumption, production, employment, income distribution, poverty and social protections, including pensions; they also complicate efforts to ensure universal access to health, education, housing, sanitation, water, food, and energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some of the African migrants crossing to Europe. Net photo <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Population\ngrowth, in particular, places particular pressures on the planet\u2019s resources-\nwater, forests, land and earth\u2019s atmosphere- contributing to climate change and\nchallenging environmental sustainability. However, population dynamics do not\naffect critical development objectives; they are themselves affected by social,\neconomic and environmental changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\nAfrica, population growth affects efforts to reduce poverty, ensure food\nsecurity, preserve the environment, and improve education, employment, and\nhealth. Population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is more rapid than any other\nregions in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rapid\npopulation growth and climate change are speeding up the region\u2019s environmental\ndegradation. It has made people in the continent more vulnerable to climate\nchange impacts. Furthermore, it has undermined sustainable development of most\ncountries which still lag behind in development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite\nthe strong links between population and climate change, and their role in\nsustainable development, these issues are not a priority in broader development\npolicies and strategies. Unfortunately, population, climate change, and\ndevelopment are often addressed separately at policy and program levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According\nto the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization\n(UNESCO), Africa is the only continent which is projected to have more than\ntwice its population\nsize<\/a>\nby 2050. This will increase its world share of the world\u2019s population to 20%.\nThe continent\u2019s population will continue to grow exponentially if far-reaching\nmeasures are not adopted to reduce the current growth rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According\nto Mutunga et al, 2012 ( Towards\nSustainable Development in Africa<\/a>), the inseparable\nlinkages between population dynamics and sustainable development hold concrete\npolicy implications for developing countries and their bilateral and\nmultilateral development partners. To promote sustainable development, Africa\nwill need to ensure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n