As the Worlds Population Hits 8 Billion People, UN Calls for Solidarity in Advancing Sustainable Development for All — Global Issues
UN, November 15 (IPS) – The global population is projected to reach 8 billion by November 15, 2022, signaling major improvements in public health that will reduce the risk of mortality and morbidity. increased longevity. But this moment is also a clear call for humanity to look beyond numbers and meet its shared responsibility to protect people and the planet, starting with the most vulnerable.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: “Unless we close the huge gap between the rich and the poor globally, we are bracing for a world of 8 billion people filled with stress and uncertainty. regions, crises and conflicts”.
A world more demographically diverse than ever before
While the world’s population will continue to grow to around 10.4 billion by the 2080s, the overall growth rate is slowing. The world is more demographically diverse than ever before, with countries facing markedly different population trends, from growth to decline.
Today, two-thirds of the global population live in a context of low fertility, where lifetime fertility is less than 2.1 births per woman. At the same time, population growth is increasingly concentrated in the world’s poorest countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Against this backdrop, the global community must ensure that all countries, regardless of whether their populations are growing or declining, are equipped to provide a good quality of life for their people and can uplift and empower the most disadvantaged. “A world of 8 billion is an important milestone for humanity – the result of longer life expectancy, reduced poverty and reduced maternal and child mortality. However, focusing only on the numbers will distract us from the real challenge we face: ensuring a world in which progress can be enjoyed equally and sustainably.” UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem said. “We cannot rely on one-size-fits-all solutions in a world where the median age in Europe is 41 compared to 17 in sub-Saharan Africa. To be successful, all population policies must be reproductive rights at their core, invested in people and planet, and based on solid data.”
The complex relationship between population, sustainable development and climate change
While 8 Billion Day represents a success story for humanity, it also raises concerns about the links between population growth, poverty, climate change, and the achievement of humans. Sustainable Development Goals. The relationship between population growth and sustainable development is complex. Rapid population growth makes it more difficult to eradicate poverty, fight hunger and malnutrition, and increase coverage of health and education systems. In contrast, achieving the SDGs, especially those related to health, education and gender equality, will contribute to slowing global population growth.
Relatedly, although slower population growth – if sustained over several decades – could help reduce environmental degradation, the combination of population growth and increased greenhouse gas emissions is neglected. that the countries with the highest rates of consumption and emissions are those whose population growth has been slow or even negative.
Meanwhile, much of the world’s population growth is concentrated in the poorest countries, where emissions rates are significantly lower but are likely to be disproportionately exposed to the effects of climate change. worthy. “We must accelerate efforts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and achieve the SDGs,” said Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. “We need to rapidly decouple economic activity from our current over-reliance on fossil fuel energy and make more efficient use of those resources, and we need to make the transition. this fair and inclusive approach to support those who are left behind the most. .”
The need for a sustainable future built on rights and choices
To usher in a world in which all 8 billion people can prosper, we must find proven and effective solutions to mitigate the world’s challenges and achieve the SDGs, while prioritizing human rights. In pursuit of these solutions, increased investment from Member States and donor governments is needed in policies and programs to make the world safer, more sustainable and inclusive.
Key facts and figures at a glance
? The world population took about 12 years to grow from 7 to 8 billion, but the next billion is expected to take about 14.5 years (2037), reflecting a slowdown in global growth. The world population is predicted to peak at around 10.4 billion in the 2080s and remain at that level until 2100. For the increase from 7 to 8 billion, about 70% of the additional population is in low- and middle-income countries. As for the increase from 8 to 9 billion people, these two groups of countries are expected to account for more than 90% of global growth. ? Between now and 2050, the global increase in the population under the age of 65 will occur entirely in low- and middle-income countries, as population growth in high- and low-income countries increases. High median income will only occur in people 65 years of age and older. end.
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