World population day is on July 11th, marking the 30-year anniversary of the observed day. This year, the focus will be on the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development and the goals that have yet to be achieved 25-years later. The 1994 conference in Cairo focused on providing reproductive health and rights to the world, 179 countries agreed that it should be a priority. These countries understood that with an increased population, resources would become scarce, and leading to possible societal collapse. Since the conference, the population has greatly increased and major problems are beginning to occur. The organization Population Matters advocates for a smaller population that is more sustainable for the planet. Humans currently add 1 billion people every 12-15 years, where there was less that 1 billion until the 1800’s. It is critical for the environment to slow the growth of the world’s population. The best way this is achievable is to provide reproductive health and rights around the world. It’s a win-win. Doing this empowers women and reduces unwanted pregnancies, which in turn slows population growth.
Written By Justin Stanphill