Over-population
The United Nations projected current rate of population growth (currently 8.2 billion) is expected to grow by another two billion over the next 60 years.
It’s a worldwide issue that politicians are reluctant or don’t have the courage to address. So too in Britain, where our politicians have a ‘growth’ mantra, to ‘grow’ the economy. But its beyond reason or logic to demand MORE from a planet of finite resources, ensuring over-production to satisfy exponential population growth; more cars, more roads, more housing , more land to build, more air transport – more of everything – detrimental to our environment and contributes to climate change.
Over population and people living longer also impacts upon vital social services. Our NHS, Dentists, and Doctor’s surgeries are under tremendous pressure to deal with rising appointments. What can be done to address the issue?
What is a Steady-State economy?
“A steady-state economy is an economy structured to balance growth with environmental integrity. A steady-state economy seeks to find an equilibrium between production growth and population growth. In a steady state economy, the population would be stable with birth rates closely matching death rates and production rates similarly matching the depreciation or consumption of goods”
Population Matters’ Chief Executive, Amy Jankiewicz:
“As I see it, humanity needs to reduce its impact on the Earth urgently and there are three ways to achieve this: we can stop consuming so many resources, we can change our technology and we can reduce the growth of our population.
The world is changing. The human population is due to hit 10 billion in a matter of decades. It is not sustainable and plays a huge part in many of the crises this planet and all its population and, over time, reducing numbers – organically, consensually and through personal choice – is vital. I believe we can do this by empowering women, supporting gender equality and standing up for human rights”.
Respected Naturalist, documentary maker and Population Matters patron, Sir David Attenborough agrees: ’Population growth has to come to an end. All our environmental problems become easier to solve with fewer people, and harder – and ultimately impossible – for us to solve with ever more people’.
When in opposition, the Labour party was against expanding Heathrow airport. Now in government, Labour’s chancellor Rachel Reeves, now supports Heathrow expansion. Would it be overly cynical to suggest that governments are enthralled by large companies and powerful lobbyists that demand more to grow (that word again) their business?
It’s vital that our politicians have the courage to address an over-population issue. ‘More’ must become ‘Enough’.
CORNOVIA 