A new study released from the the London School of Economics suggests that spending more time and effort on family planning and controlling the booming population problem could have a large effect on carbon emissions which are currently spiraling out of control. The study was commissioned by the Optimum Population Trust.
Over population is certainly an issue; however, some could criticize the report for being short sighted because even if the population growth ceased immediately, the unsustainable ways in which we live our lives, consume energy, food, water, and other resources at an alarming rate will still remain the key issue. So even by stabilizing the population, if we do not move to a sustainable way of life the reduced population would be of little effect.
A second criticism of the study is that controlling population numbers would prevent further emissions but would do nothing to lower the current rate of emission, which means that it is not a feasible plan for carbon emission reduction, at least, not by itself.
Over population is a serious issues for a range of other environmental problems and while it is still important, even necessary to stabilize the planet, it will take much more than just family planning to mend the ills that we have created with carbon. The issue will be raised at the environmental summit in Copenhagen where, if presented as only a small part of a much larger, over all plan, might get some support.
Comments
Uhm... without population control conservation only buys us a little bit of time.
Oh I certainly think that population control IS important...I just don't think it is able to take care of the carbon problem by itself since, as I stated, it still does nothing to eliminate the horrendous amount of CO2 and other pollutants that the current population is putting out.
Population control SHOULD be used in conjunction with a long term plan but only as one tiny part of a bigger, over all plan including an elimination of fossil fuels.
In-depth article, Niki -- now if we could only get people to watch the film, "Idiocracy;" I believe the sheer fear of having this alternative realty might spark some real population control ideas and innovations. ;)
Peace and thank you!
No one is proposing population restraint instead of cutting consumption, they are proposing it in addition to cutting consumption, because cutting consumption on its own isn't nearly enough
Keep all 3rd worlders out because as soon as they cross our border their environmental footprint increase 200 times.
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