Population policies, programmes and the environment

Abstract

Human consumption is depleting the Earth's natural resources and impairing the capacity of life-supporting ecosystems. Humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively over the past 50 years than during any other period, primarily to meet increasing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fibre and fuel. Such consumption, together with world population increasing from 2.6 billion in 1950 to 6.8 billion in 2009, are major contributors to environmental damage. Strengthening family-planning services is crucial to slowing population growth, now 78 million annually, and limiting population size to 9.2 billion by 2050. Otherwise, birth rates could remain unchanged, and world population would grow to 11 billion. Of particular concern are the 80 million annual pregnancies (38% of all pregnancies) that are unintended. More than 200 million women in developing countries prefer to delay their pregnancy, or stop bearing children altogether, but rely on traditional, less-effective methods of contraception or use no method because they lack access or face other barriers to using contraception. Family-planning programmes have a successful track record of reducing unintended pregnancies, thereby slowing population growth. An estimated $15 billion per year is needed for family-planning programmes in developing countries and donors should provide at least $5 billion of the total, however, current donor assistance is less than a quarter of this funding target.

Land take and food security: assessment of land take on the agricultural production in Europe

“…The estimated global increase of the world population from 6.8 billion in 2009 to 9.2 billion in 2050 (Speidel et al 2009) will lead to a significant increase in both food demand and land take. The combination of these conflicting processes raised international concern for global food security.…”

Induction of specific immune response and suppression of fertility by B-cell-epitope-based mimovirus vaccine

“…In the present day, birth control and family planning are of major concern (Speidel et al 2009). However, the contraceptive options available to men are limited to vasectomy, condoms, and early withdrawal, all of which present certain problems.…”

N-Alkyl/aryl-4-(3-substituted-3-phenylpropyl)piperazine-1-carbothioamide as dual-action vaginal microbicides with reverse transcriptase inhibition

“…The situation is further aggravated by the fact that an estimated 97 percent of unsafe abortions occur in developing countries [3], mostly due to unintended pregnancies. Reproductive health problems related to pregnancy, childbirth and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS represent nearly one-fifth (18%) of the global burden of disease (GBD) and have even higher share among developing countries [4]. The growing health and economic burdens of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and population growth in resource-poor countries have been integrated, and vaginal microbicides come out as an emerging prophylactic approach.…”