Pemalink: editorial_article/stop-at-two
By: Cool Editor :: 1 year ago
STOP AT TWO
CIWEM is the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management and today it is calling for the coalition government to undertake a complete review of all fiscal policies that incentivise people to have more than two children. CIWEM believes this will lead to a non-coercive policy of ‘stop at two’, which should help us to face up to the challenges of population and consumption growth and start living within our environmental limits.
To mark World Population Day on 11th July, CIWEM is calling for the Government to address the complex linkages between population, consumption, poverty and sustainable development.
One third of all humans who have ever lived are alive today. The global population is projected to rise to 9.2 billion in 2050. But the current species extinction rate is between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural rate, with a mass extinction under way. Human activity, not natural phenomenon, is the difference between this and the five previous big extinctions that have occurred in Earth's history. The current destruction is driven by habitat loss, overexploitation of resources, invasive species and pollution. All of these are the result of human activity, and more specifically, the impact of the size and exploitative behaviour of the human population.
In CIWEM’s recently published Manifesto, the Institution calls for the alignment of all elements of the economy with the principle of living within environmental limits. There must be an end to the presumption that economic growth is essential for a successful society, with environmental health and societal wellbeing afforded greater status in this respect. This means a review of all policies that encourage larger families, along with the UK leading the way in international negotiations to increase levels of overseas aid committed to empowering women to take greater control of their own fertility.
CIWEM also calls for the Sustainable Development Commission to monitor and report on the impact of population and people’s lifestyles on the environment. Such information is essential to planning and evolving communities and to planning for action on climate change.
CIWEM Executive Director, Nick Reeves, says:
“Climate change is a systemic effect of our economy, with year on year population and consumption growth equalling progress and GDP. As a supply-side fixated state, we have failed to understand that we need our level of efficiency gain to rise tenfold to offset the growth in our population and consumption. CIWEM condemns a lack of real leadership or mechanisms in place to help achieve a level of understanding in politicians that population x consumption x technology = impact. “
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Since my A-Level human geography teacher taught us about Gaia I have believed that the world's environmental and social problems are largely a result of over-population. While many western countries have low or negative birth rates, the resources used by western people is significantly greater than those used by those in developing countries. Therefore, it is essential that we continue to reduce populations in both developed and developing countries. In the UK, the influx of refugees and other foreign nationals allowed by the previous government has overwhelmed us. We do not have the resources, jobs, or economic security to support these people. I know it is a contentious issue, but we have to stop people coming into this country and having large families. It is unsustainable, and unfair on the British people who have to support them. I don't think it unfair to impose a 2-child policy on everyone in the UK. There is no reason for people to have large families. If they want more than two children, they should adopt one of the large number of unwanted children. Rather than funding programmes to reduce disease in developing countries, they should put funding into population control. I very much doubt that anyone will find a full-proof cure for malaria, as new strains are appearing all the time. However, there is the possibility to reduce populations to sustainable levels through education and birth control. This in turn would result in precious resources being more evenly spread, and reduce wars which are often a result of pressure for resources. If we impose laws to limit populations now, we may have a chance in the future to reduce the effect we are having on the planet. Resources are finite, and will not continue to feed, clothe, heat etc this overpopulated world in the near future unless we do something immediately.
By: Principessalogic :: 1 year ago