Family Planning and the Environment
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FAMILY PLANNING AND THE ENVIRONMENT STABILIZING POPULATION WOULD HELP SUSTAIN THE PLANET Because everyone counts ABOUT HALF THE EARTH’s biological people’s needs and that face the greatest production capacity has already been di- population growth. verted to human use. Life-supporting eco- z Since the 1960s, fertility in de- systems are affected everywhere by the veloping countries has been reduced planet’s 6.7 billion people, which is pro- from an average of six births per jected to reach at least 9.2 billion by 2050. woman to three, thanks primarily to The links between population the use of contraceptives. However, UNFPA, the United Nations and environmental quality are com- in 56 developing countries, the poorest plex and varied. Understanding them women still average six births, compared Population Fund, is an requires knowledge of consumption rates to 3.2 for the wealthiest. that differ between the rich and the poor, international development z The wealthiest countries, with less than of new and old technologies, of resource 20 per cent of earth’s population and the agency that promotes the extraction and restoration, and of the dy- slowest population growth, account for 86 namics of population growth and migration. right of every woman, man percent of natural resource consumption– Humans are depleting natural re- much of it wasteful–and produce the ma- and child to enjoy a life of sources, degrading soil and water, and cre- jority of the pollution and carbon dioxide. ating waste at an alarming rate, even as health and equal opportunity. z At the other extreme, the depletion of new technology raises crop yields, con- natural resources is occurring most rapidly serves resources and cleans up pollution. UNFPA supports countries in in the poorest countries, where fertility rates using population data for While rich nations with low population are highest. growth are mainly accountable for the un- z The poorest 20 per cent of countries policies and programmes to sustainable use of the planet’s resources, account for only 1.3 per cent of consump- developing countries, with lower overall con- tion; but their urgent drive for economic reduce poverty and to ensure sumption, contribute a growing share of growth often leads to lax regulations of pol- total CO2 emissions. that every pregnancy is luting industries and pressures to use mar- Slowing the rate of population ginal land for food production. wanted, every birth is safe, growth may give countries time to every young person is free take measures to meet people’s needs, z Increasing demand for water is directly while protecting the environment through related to population growth—extra water of HIV/AIDS, and every girl various means. is needed to grow more food. Lack of ac- cess to water is already putting pressure and woman is treated with Preventing unwanted births through on about a third of the world’s population. family planning, and guaranteeing individu- Climate change is expected to make the dignity and respect. als and couples the right to reproductive problem worse in many places. health, can help slow population growth rates and moderate environmental impact–and it z Large and poor families put pressure might be one of the most cost-effective on the environment. The search for fuel ways of doing so. wood, water and other basic needs makes the poor unwitting agents of environmental change. In poor countries, most of these THE CURRENT SITUATION T C S agents are women and children. z World population is rising by 78 mil- z In developing countries, women account lion people per year, and is projected to for more than half the agricultural labour grow from 6.7 billion people to 9.2 billion force. They grow 80 per cent of staple crops by 2050–over three times the population in Africa. In South-East Asia 90 per cent of of 50 years ago. However, if birth rates rice growers are women. remain unchanged, the UN estimates z Unintended pregnancy is the fac- that world population will be 11.9 bil- tor in population growth most ame- lion by 2050. nable to programme and policy in- z The challenge of preserving a sustain- terventions. Every year, 190 million able environment is greatest in poor coun- women become pregnant, at least a third tries that already struggle to meet their of them unintentionally. z More than 200 million women in developing coun- the unmet need for contraceptives, global population tries who would like to delay or prevent their next preg- assistance should now exceed US$1.2 billion per year nancy are not using effective contraceptives. for family planning and increase to $1.6 billion by 2015. Current assistance is $550 million-less than half of z Researchers project that the demand for contracep- today's needed amount. tives will grow by 40 per cent during the next 15 years. UNFPA believes the following will help: BENEFITS OF ACTION z A broad coalition of support from influential groups z Preventing unwanted pregnancies in developing at the global, national and local levels. countries through family planning might be one of the z Adequate and consistent funding to provide univer- most cost-effective ways to preserve the environment. sal access to contraception and pertinent information. z In developing countries with high fertility, having z Mass media campaigns focusing on the benefits of fewer, healthier children can reduce the economic bur- smaller families. den and environmental demands of poor families. z A wide range of safe and effective contraceptive z Choice about fertility is a step towards equality for methods available in health facilities and through social women. It empowers them to take part in family and marketing and outreach services. community decisions, and it enhances their opportuni- ties for education. z National and local debate on the rights of men and women in relation to their bodies, health, education and z Meeting the unmet need for family planning could access to economic and social resources. reduce fertility by 35 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean, 20 per cent in the Arab states and eastern WHAT IS UNFPA DOING? and southern Africa, and 15 per cent in Asia and west- W UNFPA D ? ern Africa. UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, works z Family planning programmes have a record to ensure universal access to reproductive health and of success in reducing unintended pregnancies the right of all people to be able to decide on the num- and slowing population growth. In Thailand and ber and timing of their children. Advocacy and provi- Iran, for instance, well-managed, fully voluntary sion of family planning are essential to this work. programmes have led to significant change. UNFPA works with governments, civil society and other UN agencies, and leads in forecasting needs, pro- WHAT MUST BE DONE? viding and coordinating the distribution of reproductive health commodities, mobilizing support and building Stabilizing the planet’s population is a critical fac- each country’s logistics capacity. tor in creating a sustainable environment. The Fund works with family planning in 140 coun- Free individual choice on the size of one’s tries around the world, providing contraceptives to health family is the most practicable option for slow- posts and hospitals that serve millions of men and ing population growth. women. Providing full access to voluntary reproductive health services, which are relatively inexpensive, would L INKS be far less costly in the long run than the environmental consequences of rapid population growth from the failure Family planning: so that every pregnancy is wanted. to meet the urgent need for reproductive health care. Family planning is now seriously under- http://www.unfpa.org/rh/planning.htm funded by donors and developing countries. To meet Main sources for this fact sheet: The Lancet’s Maternal Survival and Women Deliver Series (2006/2007); the 2005 World Health Report; and Meeting the Need, 2006, State of World Population, 2001, and other UNFPA publications ..