Population, the environment and sustainability

Population size is an environmental factor We can do something about it It is complementary to other strategies The reason we talk about population is that we are concerned about sustainability Overview

“Sustainability is the capacity to endure. In ecology, the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. Long-lived and healthy wetlands and forests are examples of sustainable biological systems. For humans, sustainability is the potential for long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of stewardship, the responsible planning and management of resources” – Wikipedia Sustainability means humanity maintaining a reasonable living standard Definition of sustainability

We want a good quality of life for everyone, now and for future generations. We want every child to be wanted, healthy, well educated, happy and to have a rewarding life and to be able to anticipate the same for their own children. Yet, over-consumption and over-population put this future at risk. Over-consumption and over-population

UK USA Mali China Ecological Footprints and Biocapacity (global hectares per person, 1961 – 2009)

16 billion 10 billion 6 billion World population – past and future (UNDESA)

DOES IT MATTER? YouGov poll in % said yes. YearPopulation million million million 2030 (Projected)73 million What about the UK? (UK ONS – Office for National Statistics)

Food availability Disease prevalence Predation Procreation level What affects animal population sizes?

The population of a species grows until: -The food runs out; e.g. seasonal die off -Disease spreads in overcrowded conditions -Predators increase -Breeding reduces Usually, things tend to balance out. In other words,

Rabbits introduced to Australia -Plenty of food -No natural predators -High birth rate Result – enormous and sometimes permanent ecological destruction Human response – introduction of disease - myxamotosis Imbalance – lack of predators

Are we subject to the same constraints -Food availability -Disease prevalence -Predation -Procreation level? Or can we rise above these limits through human ingenuity? It is a bit of both Are humans different?

Water supplies Agricultural land area and food supplies Fish stocks (freshwater and sea) Biodiversity and wild life habitats Oil, coal and gas reserves Mineral and plant resources Weather and the climate What are more people and over consumption doing to the following?

Population growth is a significant factor in essentially all the major environmental problems we face today

The world population is slowly stabilising, but to a level where it would be difficult to maintain a good quality of life for all With appropriate motivation, the stable number can be reduced This requires reducing the number of children being born So where are we now?

Population awareness – we’re increasing awareness of the cost to humanity and members of other species of unsustainable human numbers Family planning and women’s rights – we’re calling for women’s empowerment – particularly in education and employment – and for universal access to family planning services Environmental conservation – we’re supporting environmental conservation because it is essential for the well-being of all species – including our own. Sustainable lifestyles – we’re urging individuals to take into consideration the well-being of members of future generations when making lifestyle choices What action can we take?

Biodiversity loss

Further information can be found on the Population Matters Website: Thank you for watching!